"mere pretence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is done or said in order to deceive or mislead others. Example: The politician's promise to lower taxes was a mere pretence to gain votes, as he ended up raising them once in office.
Yea, I come from having slain Aegisthus in very deed, no mere pretence; and to make thee the more certain of this, I am bringing thee his corpse, which, if thou wilt, expose for beasts to rend, or set it upon a stake for birds, the children of the air, to prey upon; for now is he thy slave, once called thy lord and master.
However, it seems accepted that there is a difference between a genuine expression of anger and mere pretence and that difference need not show up in behaviour.
In the absence of such a capacity, its fiscal adjustment takes the form of imposing harsh deflations on the member states already most severely hit by the crisis, which carry only the merest pretence of leading to future growth.
We hope that people will now be satisfied that the conscientious objector may at least be what he professes to be, and is not necessarily a mere coward masquerading under fine pretence".
We hope that people will now be satisfied that the conscientious objector may at least be what he professes to be, and is not necessarily a mere coward masquerading under fine pretence". "Dear Frank, I wish you to know the exact reasons why I am anxious to be released as soon as possible.
A fantasy experience (e.g., an assumption) can be understood either (1) as a pretence of experiencing seriously (e.g., of making a judgment) or (2) as a mere entertaining of the object (e.g., an objective without a pretence of judging) (1917, §6, 47 53 [47 53]).
Promises, pretence, subterfuge.
But the pretence is slipping.
But the pretence is wearing thin.
