masquerading

[/ˌmæskəˈreɪdɪŋ/]
verb (present participle/gerund)
disfarçando-se, fingindo ser, mascarando-se
1. pretending to be someone or something one is not; disguising one's true identity or intentions
He was masquerading as a doctor to gain access to the hospital.
Ele estava se disfarçando de médico para ganhar acesso ao hospital.
2. wearing a mask or costume at a masquerade ball or similar event
The guests were masquerading in elaborate costumes at the party.
Os convidados estavam mascarados em trajes elaborados na festa.
3. concealing or disguising the true nature of something
The company was masquerading its poor financial situation with misleading reports.
A empresa estava mascarando sua má situação financeira com relatórios enganosos.
The word 'masquerading' carries connotations of deception and fraud in both American and Brazilian contexts. In Brazil, it's often used in discussing fraud cases or social commentary. In the USA, it's frequently associated with both literal costume events and metaphorical deception in business, identity, and legal contexts. The term became more culturally relevant with the rise of digital impersonation and catfishing in modern times.
NYC Slang
fronting, catfishing (in modern digital context)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
disguisingpretendingimpersonatingposingfeigningpassing off as
Antonyms / Antônimos
revealingexposingunmaskingbeing authenticadmitting

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
disfarçando-se, fingindo ser
most common and standard usage
Rio de Janeiro
se passando por
colloquial variant, very common in informal speech
São Paulo
disfarçando-se, mascarando-se
formal and informal variations equally used
Portugal
disfarçando-se, fingindo ser
similar to Brazilian Portuguese but with slightly different pronunciation and emphasis

Related Words

masquerademaskdisguiseimpersonationdeceptionpretensecostume

Related Idioms & Phrases

masquerading under false pretenses
masquerading as something one is not
a wolf in sheep's clothing (similar concept)
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