Put-on
[noun poo t-on, -awn; adjective poo t-on, -awn] /noun ˈpʊtˌɒn, -ˌɔn; adjective ˈpʊtˈɒn, -ˈɔn/
noun, Informal.
1.
an act or instance of putting someone on.
2.
a prank or pretense, especially one perpetrated or assumed in mock seriousness; hoax; spoof.
3.
affected manner or behavior; pretentiousness.
adjective
4.
assumed, feigned, pretended, or disguised:
a put-on manner that didn’t fool anyone.
n.
“ruse, deception,” 1937, from earlier adjectival meaning “assumed, feigned” (1620s), a figurative extension of the notion of putting on costumes or disguises; from put (v.) + on (adv.). The expression put (someone) on “play a trick on” seems to be a back-formation from the noun.
adjective
Feigned; affected: his put-on machismo (1621+)
noun
Read Also:
- Put on a brave front
see: brave front
- Put on an act
verb phrase To behave misleadingly, esp pretentiously; SHOOT someone A LINE (1934+) Pretend, especially in order to deceive; also, show off. For example, We were afraid Charlie had hurt himself, but he was just putting on an act, or We know you’re a good swimmer—stop putting on an act. [ c. 1930 ]
- Put one in mind of
Remind one, as in You put me in mind of your grandmother . This idiom was first recorded in 1530. For a synonym see call to mind
- Put one into the picture
see: in the picture
- Put one off
1. Repel or repulse someone, as in His bad manners put her off, or They were put off by the bad smell. [ c. 1900 ] 2. put someone off. Persuade someone to delay further action, as in He put off the creditors, promising to pay next week, or They managed to put him off […]