- acting
- affectation
- airs and graces
- alibi
- apology
- appearance
- attitudinizing
- blind
- bluff
- bluffing
- cheating
- cloak
- color
- coloring
- cover
- cover story
- cover-up
- deception
- delusion
- device
- disguise
- dissemblance
- dissembling
- dissimulation
- excuse
- facade
- face
- fakery
- faking
- false air
- false front
- false show
- falsity
- feigning
- feint
- four-flushing
- fraud
- front
- gilt
- gloss
- guise
- handle
- humbug
- humbuggery
- image
- imposture
- lame excuse
- locus standi
- mask
- masquerade
- meretriciousness
- ostensible motive
- ostentation
- outward show
- playacting
- poor excuse
- pose
- posing
- posture
- pretense
- pretension
- pretext
- protestation
- public image
- public motive
- put-off
- put-on
- refuge
- representation
- screen
- seeming
- semblance
- sham
- show
- simulacrum
- simulation
- smoke screen
- speciousness
- stalking-horse
- stratagem
- subterfuge
- trick
- varnish
- veil
- window dressing