a polite fiction

A general untruth or falsehood that is accepted in place of the truth to maintain politeness, civility, or stability among a given social group. Our parents' marriage was just a polite fiction in our household up until my youngest sister was off to college. By the time the military junta overthrew the dictatorship, the promise of democratic rule was little more than a polite fiction among the citizens of the country.

词组	a polite fiction
释义	a polite fiction a polite fiction A general untruth or falsehood that is accepted in place of the truth to maintain politeness, civility, or stability among a given social group. Our parents' marriage was just a polite fiction in our household up until my youngest sister was off to college. By the time the military junta overthrew the dictatorship, the promise of democratic rule was little more than a polite fiction among the citizens of the country. See also: fiction Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. See also: fiction lie to (one) separate fact from fiction white lie, a make an appearance put in an appearance not a spark of decency basic decency decency lie about References in periodicals archive The notion that our 90 city councillors "run" Liverpool is a polite fiction. Recent events have shown that. Letter: COMMENT & ANALYSIS - We need a mayor; LETTERS to the EDITOR
随便看	seize on(to) (something) seize out seize (someone or something) with (something) seize the day seize the hour/day seize the moment seize the moral high ground seize the opportunity seize the opportunity (to do something) seize up seize upon (something) seize with seizing seldom select select as select for select from select from (something) select (someone or something) as (something) select (someone or something) for (something) self self-care selfie selfish