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fake out

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To trick someone by making them think you are going to do one thing and then doing something else.

Literal meaning: To make something false come out toward someone.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

In sports, to make a deceptive move that causes an opponent to react to a false action.

"The striker faked out the goalkeeper with a shoulder drop before slotting the ball into the net."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To deceive or mislead someone in everyday life, often as a prank or bluff.

"She totally faked me out when she said the concert was cancelled — she was setting up a surprise party."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Common in North American English, especially in sports contexts (basketball, football) where a player fakes a move to deceive an opponent. Also used in everyday informal speech to mean any kind of bluff or deception.

Commonly used with

opponent defender crowd move feint

Forms

Base
fake out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fakes out
he/she/it
Past simple
faked out
yesterday
Past participle
faked out
have + pp
-ing form
faking out
continuous

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Synonyms

trick bluff deceive dupe bamboozle psych out

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