Pretend sleep.

Meaning: This means to imagine or make believe that one is in a state of rest and unaware of their surroundings. It's like saying, Act as if one is in a state of rest and unaware of their surroundings.

Choice of Words: Pretend is a verb that means to imagine or make believe. Sleep is a state of rest in which the body becomes inactive and unaware of its surroundings. When you put them together, "Pretend sleep" means to imagine or make believe that one is in a state of rest and unaware of their surroundings.

Alternative Expressions

Act like you are sleeping.

Meaning: This means to behave as if you are sleeping, even though you are not actually asleep. It's like saying, Even though you are not really sleeping, pretend to be asleep.

Choice of Words: The verb act means to behave in a particular way, often in order to pretend or deceive. Like is used to compare something to something else, in this case, the way you are acting to the way someone who is sleeping would act. Sleeping is the present participle of the verb sleep, which means to be in a state of rest with your eyes closed.

Fake sleep.

Meaning: This means to pretend to be asleep, even though you are not actually asleep. It's like saying, Make it look like you are sleeping, even though you are not.

Choice of Words: The verb fake means to make something appear to be true or real when it is not. Sleep is the noun form of the verb sleep, which means to be in a state of rest with your eyes closed.

Make believe you are sleeping.

Meaning: This means to pretend to be asleep, even though you are not actually asleep. It's like saying, Use your imagination to pretend that you are sleeping, even though you are not.

Choice of Words: The verb make believe means to imagine or pretend that something is true or real. You is the subject of the sentence, and are sleeping is the verb phrase that describes what you are pretending to do.

Related Expressions