Ruse
/ruːz/
nounB2
Definition
A ruse is a smart or clever action meant to fool or trick someone. People use a ruse when they want to hide what is really happening or to get something by making others believe something false. It is often used in stories or real life when someone wants to be secret or sneaky.
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See It in Action
A clever plan to trick or fool someone
- •The thief used a ruse to distract the guard and escape.
- •She created a ruse to hide the surprise party from her friend.
- •The ruse worked perfectly, and no one suspected the truth.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ruse" like "trick" (A1 word), but it is usually a clever or planned trick, not just a simple one
- ✓Picture a magician doing a magic trick that makes you believe something impossible is real
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize someone tricked you with a smart idea you didn’t see coming
- ✓Sounds like "rooze" → imagine a fox (known as a clever animal) sneaking quietly to trick others
- ✓In stories, spies often use a ruse to hide their true plans and confuse their enemies
- ✓NOT like "lie" (just saying something untrue), a ruse usually involves action or a plan, not only words
- ✓NOT like "accident" (something that happens by chance), a ruse is planned on purpose
- ✓NOT like "joke" (meant to make people laugh), a ruse is meant to deceive or hide something seriously
Try Other Words
- •Trick: a simple act to fool someone (Use when the deception is less planned or less serious)
- •Ploy: a clever plan to gain an advantage (Use when the plan is strategic, especially in competition or conflict)
- •Scheme: a secret plan, often bad or dishonest (Use when the plan is complex and possibly harmful)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix; whole word is root)
- •Etymology: From French "ruser," meaning to dodge or evade (to avoid something cleverly)
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 1500s, originally meaning a way to avoid or escape, now means a clever trick or plan
- •Modern usage: Used to describe clever tricks or plans in stories, conversations, and sometimes in serious situations like spying or business
Reflect & Connect
•Can a ruse ever be good or helpful, or is it always bad because it tricks people?
•How do you feel when you discover that someone used a ruse on you? Does it change your trust in them?
Fill in the blanks
1.The spy used a ruse to ___ the enemy and get important information.
2.She planned the ruse carefully so that no one would ___ what was really happening.
3.Unlike a simple lie, a ruse usually involves a ___ plan or action.
4.The magician’s ruse made the audience believe the impossible was ___.
5.People often use a ruse when they want to ___ their true intentions.
6.The ruse was so clever that everyone fell for it ___.
7.After the ruse was discovered, the victim felt ___ and confused.