fake out
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To deceive, mislead, or trick (someone).
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Rhyder, who police later concluded had been faking them out during the pursuit by reaching into his pants several times for a gun, actually had been searching frantically for the weapon.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fake out” mean?
To deceive, mislead, or trick (someone).
Is “fake out” formal or informal?
fake out is generally informal.