noun
charade
shuh-RAYD/ʃəˈreɪd/
A performance that represents something through pretence.
Her show of cleaning is a charade as she sweeps rubbish beneath the rug.
Etymology
French charade named a word-guessing game whose clues came to be acted out. That element of make-believe connects the game to the figurative sense of an empty performance or pretense.
In context
they regarded Luo Chen as a fraud, and even thought that the reason he was able to help his grandfather identify the authenticity of antiques was a complete charade
More examples
- They refused to continue the charade.
- The family plays charades by acting out movie titles silently.
- His charade had everyone puzzled.
Forms
charade · charades