The origin of the idiom "put on an act" is unclear, but it is thought to have been in use since the late 19th century. It likely comes from the theatre, where actors would put on a performance for the audience.
The phrase is thought to have been used figuratively since the early 20th century, when it became more widely used to describe someone pretending to be something or someone they are not.
Example sentences:
- She put on an act in front of her boss to get a promotion.
- He always puts on an act when meeting new people, trying to appear more confident than he actually is.
- I caught her putting on an act when she was talking to her friends.
- She works hard to maintain the act she puts on in public.
- His friends knew he was just putting on an act when he bragged about his accomplishments.
- She puts on a brave act, but she’s really quite scared.
- Don’t let him fool you with his act; he’s really quite lazy.
- He was trying to put on an act of nonchalance, but his nervousness was obvious.
- Don’t be fooled by her act; she doesn’t really care about you.
- He puts on an act of superiority, even though he’s quite average.
The idiom "put on an act" should not be used in situations where the person is not actually pretending to be something or someone they are not. If a person is genuinely expressing themselves or behaving in a certain way, then this phrase should not be used.
Additionally, it should not be used in situations where the person is not trying to deceive or mislead others, as this phrase implies some level of dishonesty.