fare il finto tonto
Quando gli ho chiesto spiegazioni, ha fatto il finto tonto e ha cambiato discorso.
When I asked him for explanations, he played dumb and changed the subject.
to pretend not to understand or know something, often to avoid responsibility or confrontation
Non fare il finto tonto, sai benissimo di cosa parlo!
Don’t play dumb, you know exactly what I’m talking about!
Ha fatto il finto tonto quando gli ho chiesto di aiutarmi con i compiti.
He played dumb when I asked him to help with my homework.
Often used in social or interpersonal contexts to describe someone avoiding engagement or accountability.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Contextual Clues
Listen for tone and body language. 'Fare il finto tonto' often involves exaggerated confusion or avoidance of eye contact to emphasize the pretense.
Gold Rule
Idiom vs. Literal Meaning
Never interpret this phrase literally. It always implies a deliberate act of pretending, not actual lack of understanding.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'fare' (to do/make) + 'il' (the) + 'finto' (fake) + 'tonto' (dumb/foolish). 'Tonfo' (dumb) derives from Latin 'tontus' (foolish), related to 'tonto' (dumb) in modern Italian.
Usage Notes
Common in spoken Italian, especially in informal or confrontational settings. The phrase implies a deliberate act of feigning ignorance rather than genuine confusion.