of course we pretended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of course we pretended" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that pretending was a natural or expected action in a given context. Example: "When the surprise party was being planned, of course we pretended to be oblivious to the whole thing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Of course we pretended she'd been living in America and had a job on a cable channel, but in reality she was my single, soul-draining purpose.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Of course we cannot pretend that their presence here has not helped," Mr. Adeniji said in an interview.

The New York Times

Of course "we" built "it".

The New Yorker

Miss Drew did not conceal her background how could she, when her hit song ran "Sometimes we may pretend to forget, but of course we never will".

The Economist

Update: And by that, of course, we mean he installed a widely available theme and pretended it was special.

TechCrunch

Of course we all know that when this happy state was with us, people would pretend to read, would pretend respect for learning.

The Guardian - Books

We'd troop down there and pretend that we'd been practicing all week but of course we hadn't.

Vice

And of course we both know that the truth is actually even worse than that, because the C.B.O. must pretend to believe what politicians tell it.

The New York Times

Of course we will.

The New York Times

Of course we were.

The New York Times

Of course we could.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of course we pretended" to convey a sense of shared understanding or expectation regarding the act of pretending in a given situation.

Common error

Avoid using "of course we pretended" when the act of pretending was not mutually understood or agreed upon, as it can imply a false sense of camaraderie.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of course we pretended" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express an action (pretending) that was undertaken with a degree of obviousness or expectation. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of course we pretended" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It signifies that the act of pretending was an expected or natural response to a given situation. While its frequency is relatively rare, appearing mainly in news and media contexts, its meaning is clearly understood. Alternatives like "naturally we feigned" offer similar nuances. When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with a shared understanding of the pretense to avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

naturally we feigned

Emphasizes the naturalness of the pretense, suggesting it was an obvious or expected course of action.

obviously we acted as if

Highlights the transparency of the pretense, implying it was easily detectable.

we made a show of

Suggests a deliberate and public display of pretense, often for the benefit of others.

we put on an act

Implies a performance or role-playing, suggesting a temporary and artificial behavior.

we feigned ignorance

Specifically indicates pretending not to know something.

we played along

Suggests cooperating with a pretense initiated by someone else.

we pretended without a doubt

Adds emphasis to the certainty of the pretense, suggesting it was convincing or unwavering.

we simulated

Uses a more technical or formal term for pretense, implying a deliberate and controlled imitation.

we gave the impression of

Focuses on the outward appearance or perception created by the pretense.

we masked

Implies concealing true feelings or intentions behind a facade.

FAQs

How can I use "of course we pretended" in a sentence?

You can use "of course we pretended" to indicate a shared understanding that a situation or feeling was not genuine. For example: "They acted like they were happy for us but, "of course we pretended" not to notice."

What does "of course we pretended" imply about the situation?

It implies that the pretense was expected, understood and perhaps even necessary within the context of the situation.

What are some alternatives to "of course we pretended"?

Alternatives include "naturally we feigned" or "obviously we acted as if". These options offer slightly different nuances in conveying the same basic idea.

Is "of course we pretended" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered informal, suitable for casual conversation or writing. More formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional contexts.