Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To act under the pretence of, to use as an excuse: To do something by invoking a reason, name, or authority that is not the true motive, often to conceal one's real intentions or to justify an action.

Usage

• The phrase "mượn tiếng" is used to describe an action where someone uses a specific reason, person's name, or cause as a cover or justification.
• It implies that the stated reason is a pretext, not the genuine motivation.
• Common structure: Mượn tiếng + [pretext] + để + [actual action].

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase: (He visited under the pretence of seeing a friend to go out and have fun.) (That company uses charity as a pretext for advertising.)

Advanced Usage

• "mượn tiếng là...": meaning "under the pretence that...". (They entered the house under the pretence that they were conducting a safety inspection.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lấy cớ / Viện cớ (Verb phrase): To make an excuse. This is a close synonym but can be more general. "Mượn tiếng" often implies borrowing the credibility of something/someone specific. (He made the excuse of being sick to take a day off.)
• Danh nghĩa (Noun/Adverb): In name, nominally. This refers to the official or stated reason, which may or may not be the real one. (He came here nominally as a consultant.)

Synonyms

• Under the guise of: Hành động dưới vẻ ngoài của một cái gì đó.
• On the pretext of: Với lý do được đưa ra (thường là giả tạo).

Related Idioms

• Mượn gió bẻ măng: An idiom meaning to take advantage of an opportunity or a favourable situation to achieve one's goal. While it shares the word "mượn" (to borrow), it focuses on seizing an opportunity rather than using a false pretext. (Seeing the opponent was weak, he seized the opportunity to attack immediately.)

1. Under the pretence of, under the pretence that