pretext

prétexte

Raison donnée pour cacher le véritable motif d’une action.

En anglais simple : A reason someone gives to hide their real reason for doing something.

• He needed a pretext to leave.
• She called on the pretext of asking for directions.
• They used the incident as a pretext for stricter rules.

Comment l'utiliser : on/under the pretext of doing something (He visited on the pretext of returning a book.); a pretext for something (The delay was a pretext for canceling the meeting.); on the pretext that… (She left on the pretext that she felt ill.)

Synonymes : excuse, pretence, cover

Expressions courantes : under the pretext, on the pretext, pretext for something

obtenir des informations par tromperie

Utiliser un faux motif ou une fausse identité pour obtenir quelque chose, notamment des informations privées.

En anglais simple : To use a false reason or identity to get something, especially private information.

• The investigator pretexted to obtain private records.
• They pretexted as bank employees to gain access.
• Someone had been pretexting for information about her account.

Comment l'utiliser : pretext as someone (The caller pretexted as a customer to obtain account details.)

Synonymes : blag

Expressions courantes : pretext for information, pretext as someone