feign knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"feign knowledge" is a valid expression in written English.
It is used to mean pretending to have knowledge about something you do not actually understand. For example, you could say, "The student tried to feign knowledge of calculus, but it was clear she had only a basic understanding of the subject."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Don't feign knowledge.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This facile parsing offers the convenience of manageable stereotypes and feigned knowledge.

The New Yorker

No one in the House can feign lack of knowledge of the misery that has gripped American homeowners and neighborhoods across the country.

Huffington Post

(Women post when they're fertile, men post about their erectile dysfunction; dysfunctional families duke out their differences on Twitter and Facebook -- and we all grin when we see one another and feign lack of knowledge about someone's intimacies, even though we know all. Or know all they've posted).

Huffington Post

He was then posted to the eastern front and spent a very dangerous two months there, using his limited medical knowledge to feign illness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Reading interviews with King from the time when his addictions weren't public knowledge, he feigns normality, pretends he knew what he was doing when he wrote Cujo.

The Guardian - Books

And most recently, Trump had trouble deciding whether to publicly disavow the campaign support of a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke, while feigning a lack of knowledge about someone whom the Southern Poverty Law Center calls "the most recognizable figure of the American radical right, a neo-Nazi, longtime Klan leader and now international spokesman for Holocaust denial".

Huffington Post

Death-feigning and regurgitation are known in adult tiger beetles [14], but to our knowledge have not been previously reported in larvae.

Plosone

Why it's still going The fusion of history, knowledge and manners speaks of gentler times and nobler ways, of humility, tweed, bicycle bells and feigned interest in the provenance of one's scrimshaw.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Do I feign indifference?

The New York Times

I feign bravado.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feign knowledge" when you want to emphasize the act of deliberately creating a false impression of understanding, often to deceive or impress.

Common error

Avoid using "feign knowledge" when you simply mean someone is ignorant or unaware. "Feign knowledge" implies an active attempt to deceive, not just a passive absence of information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feign knowledge" functions as a verb phrase where "feign" (to pretend) acts upon the noun "knowledge". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct, indicating its validity in English writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feign knowledge" refers to the act of pretending to have knowledge that one does not actually possess. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears in a variety of contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Wiki sources. While not a very common expression, the examples provided by Ludwig effectively illustrate its meaning and usage. When using the expression, remember to avoid confusing it with ignorance or unawareness, as "feign knowledge" implies a deliberate attempt to deceive. Consider synonyms such as "pretend to know" or "fake understanding" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pretend to know

This alternative directly replaces "feign" with "pretend", maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

feign comprehension

This is a more direct synonym, replacing "knowledge" with the more specific "comprehension".

fake understanding

This focuses on the act of creating a false impression of comprehension, rather than general knowledge.

act as if one knows

This is a simpler, more conversational way of expressing the same idea.

simulate awareness

This uses more formal language, emphasizing the act of mimicking a state of awareness.

feign expertise

This alternative uses the more specific term "expertise" instead of general knowledge.

profess familiarity

This suggests a declaration of being acquainted with something, even if it's untrue.

affect knowledge

This suggests putting on a false display of knowledge, often for a specific purpose.

put on an act of knowing

This alternative emphasizes the performative aspect of feigning knowledge, highlighting the artificiality.

give the impression of knowing

This shifts the focus to the perception created by the person, rather than the act itself.

FAQs

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

You can say, "He tried to "feign knowledge" of the subject, but his lack of understanding was obvious" or "Politicians often "feign knowledge" of complex economic issues to gain public support".

What is the difference between "feign knowledge" and "pretend to know"?

While similar, "feign knowledge" often implies a more deliberate and deceptive attempt to create a false impression, whereas "pretend to know" can sometimes be less calculated and more playful.

Are there situations where it's acceptable to "feign knowledge"?

In some social situations, people might "feign knowledge" to avoid embarrassment or maintain a conversation, but it's generally more ethical to admit a lack of understanding and ask for clarification.

What are some synonyms for "feign" besides "pretend" when used with "knowledge"?

Other synonyms include "simulate", "affect", "profess", or "fake", all suggesting a false display of knowledge.