sham
- 01 C2 Proficiency
n.a decorative cover for a pillow that you put on a bed for looks, not for sleeping.
n.an ornamental covering for a pillow, typically matching a duvet or bedspread and removed before sleeping.
Simple“She bought a matching set of sheets and pillow shams to make the guest room look nice.”
In context“The interior designer suggested quilted shams to add texture to the bedding arrangement without sacrificing the room's minimalist aesthetic.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to pretend to have a feeling or illness to deceive someone.
v.to feign or simulate a physical or mental state; to act with intent to deceive.
Simple“He decided to sham illness so he could stay home from school and play video games.”
In context“The prisoner attempted to sham madness during the trial, but the court-appointed psychiatrists were not convinced by his performance.”
UsageThe verb is often used intransitively or with a direct object representing the state being faked.
“Min Aung Hlaing’s pro-military party won a landslide victory in elections earlier this year that have been widely condemned as a sham.”
“It has described the current elections as a “sham”, being held “at gunpoint”.”