noun
ruse
rooz
noun
1
A clever trick or scheme meant to deceive someone.
"The whole invitation was just a ruse to get her out of the house."
"He used a ruse to distract the guard while his partner slipped inside."
How to Use Ruse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA trick or deceptive strategy used to mislead someone.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "rouse" (to wake or stir up) — they sound similar but are unrelated in meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a clever ruse
use a ruse
a ruse to distract
Word Forms
rused past tense, ruses plural, ruses singular
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The whole invitation was just a _____ to get her out of the house.
Etymology
From Old French ruse ("trick, cunning"), originally describing the evasive doubling-back of a hunted animal.