Definition

1. Noun:
   • A deceptive maneuver or trick intended to mislead someone: A "ruse" is a clever action or plan designed to deceive others, often to gain an advantage or to avoid a difficult situation.
   • A stratagem or subterfuge: It refers to a cunning scheme or artifice used to achieve a goal through indirect or dishonest means.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The thief's ruse of pretending to be a delivery person allowed him to enter the building.
  • Her sudden illness was just a ruse to avoid the meeting.
  • The military commander used a clever ruse to draw the enemy away from their stronghold.

Advanced Usage

• "To see through a ruse": to recognize that something is a trick or deception.
  • The detective quickly saw through the suspect's ruse.
• "As a ruse": used to describe an action done for the purpose of deception.
  • He called her, as a ruse, to find out where she was.

Variants and Related Words

• Ruses (n): The plural form of "ruse."
  • His plan involved a series of complicated ruses.
• Ruse de guerre (n, French origin): A stratagem or trick of war.
  • The feigned retreat was a classic ruse de guerre.

Synonyms

• Trick: A cunning act or scheme intended to deceive.
• Stratagem: A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent.
• Subterfuge: Deceit used to achieve one's goal.
• Ploy: A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.
• Deception: The act of hiding the truth, especially to get an advantage.

Idioms and Phrases

• "A mere ruse": Emphasizes that something is only a trick and not genuine.
  • His apology was a mere ruse to get back into her good graces.
• "The oldest ruse in the book": Refers to a very common, well-known, and often simple trick.
  • Pretending to have a flat tire is the oldest ruse in the book to get out of a date.

Noun

1. a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)