Example: No pots fer-te el desentès quan tothom sap la veritat.
Definition
"Fer-se el desentès" is a Catalan expression meaning to pretend not to understand or to ignore something deliberately, especially when one actually knows the truth or facts. It implies acting as if unaware to avoid responsibility or involvement.
Translations
To pretend not to notice
Hacerse el despistado
Doen alsof je van niets weet
Faire semblant de ne pas comprendre
So tun, als wüsste man von nichts
Etymology
The phrase "Fer-se el desentès" comes from Catalan, where "fer-se" means to make oneself or to act, and "desentès" means unaware or ignorant. It literally translates as 'to make oneself unaware.' Did you know? This expression humorously captures the act of feigning ignorance to evade a situation.
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"Fer-se el desentès" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To pretend not to notice