feigning innocence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feigning innocence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who is pretending not to know or be involved in something, often to avoid blame or responsibility. Example: "Despite the evidence against him, he continued feigning innocence, insisting he had no idea what had happened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Feigning innocence, he hid the pack under his arm while the manager searched him.

The New Yorker

But he's also great at feigning innocence himself, so each shot is as if it's his first.

The Guardian - Film

And it doesn't help that Hans and Sophie soon become clandestine lovers, meeting in Hans's room with the ostensible purpose of translating European poetry, while having some of the most graphic sex in contemporary fiction, and then feigning innocence in public in the neutral environment of the Gottlieb family's literary salon.

The Guardian - Books

"My dog's urine?" I asked, feigning innocence.

Huffington Post

Americans for Prosperity has a track record of pleading ignorance and feigning innocence elsewhere too.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Neither recalled the game's origins, but they'd been punished for it on many occasions and had always feigned innocence.

The New Yorker

I would renounce those who feigned innocence or slight stupidity in order to create empathy in their readers; I would never fall into the trap of candor.

The New Yorker

It cannot now feign innocence of its predatory past in the face of the Islamist backlash it has helped to unleash.

The Guardian - Books

The principal Hamas leaders — Zahar and Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza, and Musa Abu-Marzuq and Khaled Mashel in Damascus — have never feigned innocence of the attacks committed in their name, but they are fairly schooled in the arts of diplomatic wrangling and media manipulation.

The New Yorker

A sneaky sense of humor, a feigned innocence entered the poems and stayed: "Reading in Li Po / how 'the peach blossom follows the water' / I keep thinking of you / because you were so much like / Chairman Mao, / naturally with the sex / transposed / and the figure slighter".

The New Yorker

Then, executing a hasty if bloody pirouette, it feigned innocence for the awful mess.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feigning innocence" when you want to emphasize the act of pretending to be innocent, often to avoid consequences or detection. It implies a deliberate attempt to mislead others about one's involvement or knowledge of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "feigning innocence" when someone genuinely is innocent. "Feigning" implies deception, so the phrase is inappropriate if there's no pretense involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feigning innocence" functions as a verbal phrase acting as a gerund or participle, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the action of pretending to be innocent, often with the intent to deceive or mislead. Ludwig provides examples where it is used to describe someone actively trying to appear innocent despite evidence to the contrary.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feigning innocence" is a phrase used to describe the act of pretending to be innocent, often to avoid blame or suspicion. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase. Its frequency is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context accurately reflects a deceptive attempt to appear innocent, as misuse can lead to misrepresentation. The related phrases offer alternative ways to express this concept, each with subtle nuances in meaning. The examples provided by Ludwig further illustrate the phrase's application in various scenarios, emphasizing its role in conveying doubt or skepticism about a claim of innocence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pretending innocence

Replaces the verb "feigning" with "pretending", offering a more common synonym while retaining the same meaning.

acting innocent

Uses the verb "acting" to convey the performance of innocence, focusing on the outward behavior.

simulating innocence

Emphasizes the artificiality of the display of innocence, highlighting its insincerity.

falsely professing innocence

Highlights the deceptive nature of the claim of innocence, suggesting a deliberate lie.

affecting ignorance of wrongdoing

Shifts the focus to pretending ignorance of a specific wrong act rather than a general state of innocence.

putting on an act of innocence

Emphasizes the theatrical aspect of pretending to be innocent, suggesting a deliberate performance.

masquerading as blameless

Uses a stronger verb, "masquerading", to indicate a more elaborate deception of being blameless.

playing the innocent

Suggests a calculated and strategic approach to appearing innocent.

assuming a facade of innocence

Highlights the creation of a false appearance to conceal guilt or knowledge.

feigning ignorance and innocence

Adds "ignorance" to the pretense, suggesting a dual deception of both innocence and lack of knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "feigning innocence" in a sentence?

You can use "feigning innocence" to describe someone pretending not to know or be involved in something. For example: "Despite the evidence, he kept "feigning innocence".".

What are some alternatives to "feigning innocence"?

You can use alternatives such as "pretending innocence", "acting innocent", or "simulating innocence".

Is it appropriate to use "feigning innocence" in formal writing?

Yes, "feigning innocence" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing deceptive behavior. However, ensure the context clearly indicates that the person is, in fact, pretending.

What's the difference between "feigning innocence" and "claiming innocence"?

"Feigning innocence" implies a false display of innocence, suggesting the person is actually guilty or knowledgeable. "Claiming innocence" simply means stating that one is innocent, without necessarily implying deception.