I feigned sleep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I feigned sleep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone pretends to be asleep, often to avoid interaction or scrutiny. Example: "When my parents entered the room, I feigned sleep to avoid having to explain my late-night activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the total effect of the passage depends upon the reader's awareness of Lolita's actual circumstances and Humbert's melancholy account of her "sobs in the night — every night, every night — the moment I feigned sleep".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He feigned sleep.

The New Yorker

For a while, she feigned sleep.

The New York Times - Sports

As Quanitta feigned sleep, her father groped her sister and often rolled on top.

The New York Times - Sports

He acquired skill at dodging the consequences of involvements: still in Cape Town, he got a girl pregnant and let her cope with all the details of the abortion, and in London he allowed his docile little Austrian, after their last night together, to ease herself out the door in demure silence while he feigned sleep.

The New Yorker

In the Luna showroom, Franceschetti actually feigned sleep and we saw the room go to sleep around him.

TechCrunch

Sunday morning I woke up and as I lay there feigning sleep so that M would get up and make the coffee, I knew something was special about the day, but I couldn't figure out what.

Huffington Post

The nights he lifted my floppy bones from the car after some colleague's dinner party and carried me to bed, both of us fully aware that I was only feigning sleep.

The New York Times

He would feign sleep.

The Guardian

Paler female slaves lay feigning sleep on an immense golden staircase erected beneath the trees.

The New Yorker

For the viewer feigning sleep won't work as well as not attending the movie in the first place.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I feigned sleep" to describe a deliberate act of pretending to be asleep, especially when trying to avoid interaction or observation. Consider the context to ensure the slightly formal tone of 'feigned' is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "I feigned sleep" when you genuinely drifted off. 'Feigned' implies a conscious decision to pretend, not an actual state of unconsciousness. Instead, say "I fell asleep" if you unintentionally dozed off.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I feigned sleep" functions as a narrative description of a deliberate action. It portrays the subject's conscious effort to mimic the state of sleep, typically with an intention to deceive or avoid something. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I feigned sleep" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe the act of pretending to be asleep. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it conveys a deliberate deception and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While slightly formal, it is versatile enough for various situations. When writing, remember to use this phrase only when describing a conscious act of pretense and to consider alternatives like "I pretended to be asleep" for less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I pretended to be asleep

Simple and direct substitution of 'feigned' with 'pretended'.

I faked being asleep

Uses 'faked', a more colloquial alternative to 'feigned'.

I acted as if I were sleeping

More descriptive, using 'acted' instead of 'feigned'.

I simulated sleep

Replaces 'feigned' with 'simulated', a slightly more formal term.

I made a show of sleeping

Focuses on the performative aspect of pretending.

I gave the impression of being asleep

Emphasizes the impression created.

I played possum

Idiomatic expression for pretending to be asleep or unconscious.

I misled them by seeming to sleep

Focuses on the misleading nature of the action.

I deceived them by appearing asleep

Highlights the deceptive intention behind the act.

I went still and quiet, mimicking sleep

Describes the actions taken to feign sleep.

FAQs

What does "I feigned sleep" mean?

The phrase "I feigned sleep" means that you pretended to be asleep. It implies a deliberate act of mimicking sleep, often to deceive or avoid interaction.

What can I say instead of "I feigned sleep"?

You can use alternatives like "I pretended to be asleep", "I acted as if I were sleeping", or "I faked being asleep" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "feigned sleep" formal?

The word "feigned" is slightly more formal than words like "pretended" or "faked". Therefore, "feigned sleep" is suitable for writing or speaking where a degree of formality is appropriate.

How to use "I feigned sleep" in a sentence?

You can use "I feigned sleep" to describe a situation where you deliberately pretended to be asleep. For example: "When my parents entered the room, "I feigned sleep" to avoid having to explain my late-night activities".