From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishunder false pretencesunder false pretencesif you get something under false pretences, you get it by deceiving people He was accused of obtaining money under false pretences. → false
Examples from the Corpus
under false pretences• He got a loan from the bank under false pretences.• Immigration officers attempt to catch people entering the country under false pretenses.• He brought me down here to work for him under false pretences.• He was only interested in himself and his business, and had married her under false pretences.• I felt as if I was there under false pretences.• I got into your office under false pretences, but there was no other way. 