Feint

A feint is a deceptive or pretended move, often used in combat, sports, or strategic situations, intended to mislead or distract an opponent. It involves making a false or misleading gesture or action to deceive someone into thinking that something is happening or will happen, only to then quickly change direction or strategy. In its essence, a feint is a trick or maneuver that aims to create an opening or an advantage by diverting attention away from the real objective. In Indonesian, feint can be translated as “tipuan” or “permainan.”

Some synonyms for feint include: trick, deception, ruse, dodge, ploy, artifice, maneuver, sham, distraction, and bluff.

Example Sentences Using Feint:

• The boxer used a quick feint to confuse his opponent before landing a real punch.
• She made a feint to the left, but then quickly moved to the right to score the winning goal.
• The general’s battle strategy involved several feints to confuse the enemy and create opportunities for attack.
• His sudden feint caused the defender to fall for the move, giving him a clear path to the basket.
• The politician made a feint of being open to compromise, but his true agenda was to win votes.
• The chess player’s feint led his opponent to believe he was losing, but he set up a checkmate move.
• He made a feint towards the door, causing his friend to move, only to take advantage of the situation and win the game.
• The thief used a feint to distract the guard while his accomplice snuck past undetected.
• The knight’s feint during the joust fooled his opponent into lowering his guard, allowing for a successful strike.
• She used a clever feint in her negotiation, pretending to back down only to secure a better deal.

Related Words:

• Trick
• Deception
• Ruse
• Dodge
• Bluff
• Artifice
• Maneuver
• Sham
• Ploy
• Distraction

Phrasal Verbs Related to Feint:

• Throw off (to mislead or confuse someone through a feint)
• Lead astray (to deceive or mislead someone, often using a feint)
• Draw out (to make someone take a deceptive or false move, like a feint)
• Play along (to go along with a false or deceptive action, often in response to a feint)
• Make a move (to take an action, sometimes involving a feint to trick the opponent)

Idiomatic Expressions Related to Feint:

• Lead someone up the garden path (to deceive or mislead someone, often through a feint)
• Play cat and mouse (to engage in a deceptive or tactical game, using feints to outsmart the opponent)
• Pull the wool over someone’s eyes (to deceive someone, similar to using a feint to mislead)
• Give the slip (to escape or deceive someone, often using a feint or distraction)
• Throw a curveball (to present an unexpected situation, similar to using a feint to confuse someone)
• Fake out (to deceive or mislead someone with a false or misleading action, like a feint)

A feint is primarily about misdirection, using skill and deception to manipulate how an opponent or audience perceives a situation. While it is commonly used in physical contexts like sports or combat, it can also apply to mental or strategic situations, where the goal is to outmaneuver, confuse, or surprise others with a clever trick.