false
/fɔ:ls/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Not true or correct; wrong: "false" describes something that is not in accordance with fact, truth, or reality.
- Not genuine; artificial or imitation: "false" refers to something made to look real but is not authentic.
- Based on mistaken ideas: "false" can describe beliefs, hopes, or assumptions that are incorrect.
- Deliberately deceptive or dishonest: "false" indicates an intent to mislead or betray.
- Not faithful or loyal: "false" describes a person who is insincere or treacherous in affection or allegiance.
- Inaccurate in musical pitch: "false" describes a note that is off-key or out of tune.
Adverb:
- In a treacherous or dishonest manner: "false" describes acting with disloyalty or deceit.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- He gave false testimony in court. (His statement was not true.)
- She was wearing false eyelashes. (The eyelashes were artificial, not real.)
- The rumor turned out to be false. (The rumor was incorrect.)
- He is a false friend. (He is not a loyal or dependable friend.)
- The singer hit a false note. (The musical note was off-pitch.)
Adverb:
- He swore to help but then played me false. (He acted in a treacherous way toward me.)
Advanced Usage
- "under false pretences": by pretending to be something one is not, or by lying about one's intentions.
- He obtained the money under false pretences.
- "false alarm": a warning or signal that is given mistakenly, causing unnecessary alarm.
- The fire evacuation was a false alarm.
- "false start": an attempt to begin something that is invalidated by an error or premature action.
- The race had two false starts.
Variants and Related Words
- Falsify (verb): to alter information so as to mislead; to make false.
- He tried to falsify the documents.
- Falsity (noun): the state of being untrue.
- The falsity of the claim was obvious.
- Falsehood (noun): a lie; the state of being untrue.
- He was accused of spreading falsehoods.
Synonyms
- Incorrect: not accurate or true.
- Fake: not genuine; imitation.
- Untrue: not in accordance with fact.
- Deceptive: intended to mislead.
- Treacherous: guilty of betrayal.
Related Phrases and Phrasal Verbs
- To prove false: to be shown to be incorrect or untrue.
- His theory was proven false by new evidence.
- To play someone false: to betray or deceive someone.
- I trusted him, but he played me false.
Related Idioms
- A false economy: something that seems to save money but actually costs more in the long run.
- Buying cheap tools is often a false economy.
- Sail under false colors: to pretend to be something one is not; to deceive.
- The company was sailing under false colors, claiming to be eco-friendly.
Adjective
- (used especially of persons) not dependable in devotion or affection; unfaithful
- a false friend
- when lovers prove untrue
- adopted in order to deceive
- an assumed name
- an assumed cheerfulness
- a fictitious address
- fictive sympathy
- a pretended interest
- a put-on childish voice
- sham modesty
- inaccurate in pitch
- a false (or sour) note
- her singing was off key
- designed to deceive
- a suitcase with a false bottom
- not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article; it's real synthetic fur"
- it isn't fake anything
- faux pearls
- false teeth
- decorated with imitation palm leaves
- a purse of simulated alligator hide
- inappropriate to reality or facts
- delusive faith in a wonder drug
- delusive expectations
- false hopes
- deliberately deceptive
- false pretenses
- erroneous and usually accidental
- a false start
- a false alarm
- arising from error
- a false assumption
- a mistaken view of the situation
- not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
- gave false testimony under oath
- false tales of bravery
Adverb
- in a disloyal and faithless manner
- he behaved treacherously
- his wife played him false