arrête de faire semblant
In French, "stop pretending" is said as arrête de faire semblant.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop acting as if something is true when it is not. If you want to specifically tell someone to stop pretending to be someone else in a more formal manner, you can use Cessez de vous faire passer pour quelqu'un d'autre. In informal situations, if someone is acting superior or showing off, you might use the expression Arrête de te la jouer to mean "stop playing the role" or "stop pretending to be someone you're not".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase arrête de faire semblant is composed of arrête (stop), de (of/to), faire (to do/make) and semblant (semblance/appearance).
Which one should you use?
Cessez de vous faire passer pour quelqu'un d'autre is a more specialized formal way to express the idea of stopping pretending to be someone else.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form arrête de faire semblant uses the singular imperative, which is used when speaking to one person informally (tu). To address a group of people or to use the formal "vous" form, use arrêtez de faire semblant. The infinitive form of this phrase is arrêter de faire semblant.
Did you know?
- When telling someone to stop pretending in a very aggressive or street-slang way, a speaker might use Arrête ton cinéma, which literally means 'stop your cinema'.
- The phrase faire semblant is often used in French children's games to announce the start of 'make-believe' play, similar to saying 'let's pretend'.
- While faire semblant describes pretending, French uses the word simuler specifically for pretending to be ill or faking an injury to avoid work.
Examples in context
- Arrête de faire semblant de ne pas comprendre.Stop pretending to not understand.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to tell someone to stop pretending they do not understand.Tatoeba #971628 by sacredceltic, translation #971612 by FeuDRenais2
- Arrête de faire semblant de ne pas connaître la réponse.Stop pretending you don't know the answer.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to tell someone to stop pretending they do not know an answer.Tatoeba #12879581 by lbdx, translation #1860595 by CK
- Madame, je vous demande respectueusement d'arrêter de faire semblant. Nous devons traiter cette situation avec sérieux.Madam, I respectfully ask you to stop pretending. We need to handle this situation seriously.
- Monsieur, je vous prie de cesser de vous faire passer pour notre directeur régional. Vos actions sont inappropriées.Sir, I urge you to stop pretending to be our regional manager. Your actions are inappropriate.
- François, arrête de faire semblant d'être cool. Nous savons tous que tu es nerveux !François, stop pretending to be cool. We all know you're nervous!
- Lucie, arrête de te la jouer experte en cuisine. On sait tous que c'est la première fois que tu cuisines !Lucie, stop pretending to be an expert cook. We all know it's your first time cooking!
- Arrête de faire semblant d'être heureux.Stop pretending to be happy.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are arguing at home.
- GabrielArrête de faire semblant que tout va bien.Stop pretending that everything is fine.
- ChloéJe ne fais pas semblant, Gabriel.I am not pretending, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe sais que tu es en colère.I know that you are angry.
- ChloéD'accord, tu as raison.Okay, you are right.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
