false W3 / fɔls $ fɒls / 形容词

1 untrue a statement, story etc that is false is completely untrue :

Please decide whether the following statements are true or false.

false accusations

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In everyday English, people usually say not true rather than false , apart from in the fixed expression true or false : What he said was false . ➔ What he said was not true .

2 wrong based on incorrect information or ideas :

I don’t want to give you any false hopes .

The statement gives us a false impression that we understand something when we do not.

false assumptions about people of other cultures

a false sense of security (= a feeling of being safe when you are not really safe )

3 not real

a) not real, but intended to seem real and deceive people :

The drugs were hidden in a suitcase with a false bottom.

The man had given a false name and address.

b) artificial

false teeth/hair/eyelashes etc

4 not sincere not sincere or honest, and pretending to have feelings that you do not really have :

She’s so false.

a false laugh

‘You played brilliantly.’ ‘Not really,’ Ian replied with false modesty .

5 false economy something that you think will save you money but which will really cost you more :

It’s a false economy not to have travel insurance.

6 under false pretences if you get something under false pretences, you get it by deceiving people :

He was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.

7 false move/step a small movement or action that will result in harm :

One false move and you’re dead.

8 false imprisonment/arrest the illegal act of putting someone in prison or arrest ing them for a crime they have not committed

THESAURUS

false not real, but intended to seem real and deceive people : He uses a false name.

fake made to look or seem like something else, especially something worth a lot more money : fake fur | a fake Rolex watch | fake designer goods | a fake $100 bill

forged a forged official document or bank note has been illegally made to look like a real one : a forged passport | a forged £50 note

counterfeit / kaʊntəfɪt $ -tər- / counterfeit money or goods have been illegally made to look exactly like something else : How do you detect counterfeit currency? | counterfeit drugs

imitation made to look real – used especially about guns, bombs etc or about materials : The two men used an imitation firearm to carry out the robbery. | imitation leather/silk/silver

phoney/phony / fəʊni $ foʊ- / disapproving informal false – used when you think someone is deliberately trying to deceive people : She put on a phoney New York accent. | The doctors were accused of supplying phoney medical certificates. | There’s something phoney about him. | phony advertisements

spurious / spjʊəriəs $ spjʊr- / false and giving a wrong impression about someone or something : spurious claims | That’s a spurious argument. | The company was trying to get some spurious respectability by using our name.