The patient uses double bookkeeping to accept both his real life and his delusions.
double bookkeeping
idiomThe tendency, among those who experience delusions, to perceive reality and the delusions as both being real, while remaining unbothered by the discrepancy or inconsistencies between the two.
Origin
disputed originBy a metaphor with literal bookkeeping that evokes (1) a mental echo of the double-entry method thereof and (2) the notion of keeping two sets of books as a way to cover up the truth (i.e., by a different figure of speech, to cook the books).
The doctor noted the patient's double bookkeeping, as he spoke calmly about his job while simultaneously describing his imaginary life as a king.
In a fascinating display of double bookkeeping, the subject maintained a functional daily routine while remaining entirely convinced of the impossible narrative he had constructed for himself.
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double back
To retrace one's steps; to go back where one has already gone.
- 02
double booked
Of a single resource, reserved for two different users at the same time.
- 03
double in brass
To perform two or more tasks within the same project or organization.
- 04
double over
To bend over deeply at the waist.
- 05
double taker
Something causing someone to do a double take.
- 06
double tap
A tactical shooting technique of pulling the trigger of a weapon twice in quick succession to deliver two shots to the same target zone.