feign concern

USAGE SUMMARY

"feign concern" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express the act of pretending to be concerned about something or someone. For example, "He feigned concern when his friend mentioned she was feeling down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

I just think it is so interesting when people feign concern for another person, when clearly there is another agenda.

The Washington Post

But the two parties did exactly the same thing: they used their conventions to feign concern for constituencies whose beliefs and interests they have otherwise ignored.

The New York Times

And we'll go through the same cycle of periodic conflicts between the police and communities, and the occasional riots in the streets, and everybody will feign concern until it goes away, and then we go about our business as usual.

The New Yorker

These cards attempt to demean fat women and make them feel unworthy to go out in public: they comment on their appearance, feign concern about health issues, even mention their relationship statuses.

Independent

"And we're going to go through the same cycles of periodic violence, and the occasional riots in the streets, and everybody will feign concern until it goes away, and then we go about our business as usual".

The Guardian

Instead, they feign concern for babies while doing absolutely nothing to help children and everything in their power to make women's lives harder and more dangerous if those women dare to believe that they're entitled to a fulfilling sex life.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"She's feigning concern for our troops in Iraq," he charged.

The New York Times

"Oh, honey," Ms. White said, feigning concern and popping another éclair into her mouth.

The New York Times

She would swear that he pushed her, but he feigned concern, asking her how she had tripped.

The Washington Post

These cabbies are a smooth-talking, philosophical bunch, well versed in the art of negotiation and feigned concern.

The New York Times

The owners aren't just feigning concern for their eventual employees, they're not even trying very hard to make it seem sincere.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feign concern" when you want to emphasize that someone is pretending to be worried or interested, often to manipulate or deceive others. This phrase is stronger than simply saying someone is not concerned.

Common error

Avoid using "feign concern" when someone is simply unaware or inattentive. The phrase implies an active, deliberate attempt to deceive, not just a lack of awareness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feign concern" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating an action. It describes the act of pretending or simulating concern, emphasizing the insincerity of the displayed emotion. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feign concern" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe the act of pretending to be worried or interested. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase carries a neutral register and serves to expose or critique insincerity. Related phrases include "fake concern" and "put on a show of concern". When using this expression, ensure that the context involves deliberate deception, not merely a lack of awareness. As a tip, using the phrase “feign concern” emphasizes that someone is pretending to be worried or interested, often to manipulate or deceive others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fake concern

Emphasizes the insincerity of the expressed worry, highlighting its artificial nature.

put on a show of concern

Highlights the performative aspect, suggesting an insincere display intended for an audience.

simulate concern

Similar to "fake concern" but implies a more calculated effort to mimic genuine worry.

profess concern falsely

Directly accuses someone of falsely claiming to be worried, emphasizing dishonesty.

affect concern

Implies an artificial or pretentious display of worry, suggesting a desire to impress.

pretend to care

Simplifies the concept, focusing on the lack of genuine care or empathy.

feign interest

Shifts the focus from worry to general interest, suggesting a lack of genuine curiosity.

make a pretense of concern

Highlights the insincere act of creating an outward appearance of worry.

exhibit false worry

Emphasizes the external display of insincere worry, focusing on observable behavior.

give a false impression of caring

Focuses on the deceptive nature of the outward display, aiming to mislead others.

FAQs

How can I use "feign concern" in a sentence?

You can use "feign concern" to describe someone who pretends to be worried or interested when they are not. For example, "The politician "feigned concern" for the working class during the election campaign but quickly forgot about them afterward".

What's a more formal way to say "feign concern"?

A more formal alternative to "feign concern" could be "affect concern" or "simulate concern". These phrases convey a similar meaning but with a slightly more sophisticated tone.

What words are similar to "feign"?

Synonyms for "feign" include "simulate", "pretend", "fake", and "affect". Choosing the right word depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "feign concern" or "show concern"?

"Show concern" implies genuine worry or interest, while "feign concern" suggests insincerity. The best choice depends on whether the concern is real or pretended.