make-believe
make-believe — noun
1. The activity of treating imaginary situations, objects, or identities as though
The activity of treating imaginary situations, objects, or identities as though they were real, especially during children's play or in creative storytelling.
The librarian said make-believe can help children learn how to tell stories.
During the car ride, the twins created a game of make-believe about a secret island with dragons.
a game of make-believe + about + topic
The teacher noticed that the new student's make-believe had grown very detailed over time.
A good stage actor knows how to balance make-believe with real emotion.
The wooden puppet seemed alive, and the children forgot it was just make-believe.
- fantasy
broader — includes daydreams and fictional worlds beyond pretend play
- pretending
more concrete — focuses on the act rather than the imagined world
- imagination
positive — stresses the creative ability rather than the unreality
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed phrase "it's all just make-believe" to contrast fantasy with reality. Cannot be pluralised.
常見錯誤
make-believe — idiom
make-believe — adjective
1. Created to seem real for the purpose of fun, play, or storytelling, without actu
Created to seem real for the purpose of fun, play, or storytelling, without actually existing in the real world.
The babysitter found the children having a tea party with make-believe cookies and plastic cups.
attributive: make-believe + noun (physical objects used as props)
The novelist spent a year describing a make-believe kingdom with rivers of honey.
The kids turned the garage into a make-believe haunted house for Halloween.
The make-believe money from the game taught the children how to count coins.
A make-believe friend can help a lonely child practice talking and sharing feelings out loud.
用法筆記
Only placed before a noun — the construction "The castle is make-believe" is non-standard. Use "a make-believe castle" or rephrase with "exists only in make-believe."