Phonied: meaning, definitions and examples

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phonied

 

[ ˈfoʊnid ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

informal usage

The term 'phonied' is the simple past tense of the verb 'phone', which means to call someone using a telephone. In informal contexts, it can refer to a situation where someone pretends or deceives another person, often for personal gain. It carries a connotation of insincerity or dishonesty. It is frequently used in conversational English to describe someone who is not being genuine or is faking their intentions.

Synonyms

deceived, faked, misled

Examples of usage

  • He phonied his way into the party.
  • She phonied her feelings to avoid conflict.
  • They phonied their relationship for social media.

Translations

Translations of the word "phonied" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fingido

🇮🇳 धोखाधड़ी किया हुआ

🇩🇪 vorgespielt

🇮🇩 pura-pura

🇺🇦 псевдоний

🇵🇱 udawany

🇯🇵 偽の

🇫🇷 faux

🇪🇸 fingido

🇹🇷 sahte

🇰🇷 가짜의

🇸🇦 مزيف

🇨🇿 předstíraný

🇸🇰 predstierané

🇨🇳 伪造的

🇸🇮 ponarejen

🇮🇸 fingaður

🇰🇿 жалған

🇬🇪 მაყურებელი

🇦🇿 saxta

🇲🇽 fingido

Etymology

The word 'phone' originated from the Greek word 'phone', which means 'voice' or 'sound.' In the late 19th century, as the telephone became a common form of communication, the term evolved. The informal use of 'phonied' to describe insincerity likely arose in the mid-20th century as slang developed in various social contexts, especially in American English. With the rise of pop culture and media, the term gained traction, reflecting society's growing sensitivity to authenticity and honesty in personal interactions. 'Phonied' thus became a colloquial way to describe acts of pretense or deception, aligning with contemporary cultural critiques of insincerity.