per finta

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “for imitation”.

Adverb

per finta

1. superficially, in appearance
   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Lo depuriamo di tutto il male e di tutte le illusioni; lo constringiamo a passare dalla nostra parte, non per finta ma per davvero, anima e corpo.

     We burn all evil and all illusion out of him; we bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul.

     (literally, “We cleanse him of all evil and of all illusions; we force him to come to our side, not in appearance but for real, body and soul.”)

2. as a joke, kiddingly, unseriously

   l'ho detto per finta ― I said it as a joke