act act a part affect alibi apology apply to assume be the goat becloud befog blanket blind block bluff camouflage canopy cloak clothe cloud color conceal cope counterfeit cover cover story cowl curtain device disguise dissemble dissimulate distract attention from eclipse ensconce enshroud envelop excuse facade fake feign feint film four-flush front front for gammon gloss gloss over guise handle hide hood keep under cover lame excuse lay on lay over let on let on like locus standi make a pretense make as if make believe make like mantle mask muffle obduce obfuscate obscure occult ostensible motive overlay overspread play play a part play possum playact poor excuse pretend pretense pretension pretext profess protestation public motive put on put-off refuge screen scum semblance shade sham shield show shroud simulate slur over smoke screen spread over stalking-horse stratagem subterfuge superimpose superpose trick varnish veil whitewash