English

Conjunction

as if

1. As though; in a manner suggesting.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 13, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     “[…] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably.” And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 9, in The China Governess:

     Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.

   • 2011 October 1, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland”, in BBC Sport:

     Scotland needed a victory by eight points to have a realistic chance of progressing to the knock-out stages, and for long periods of a ferocious contest looked as if they might pull it off.

   The old man stumbled, as if he were about to fall.‎

2. In mimicry of.

   When the teacher's back was turned, the class clown would hold his stomach as if he were ill.‎

Translations

Interjection

as if

1. (idiomatic) Refers to something that the speaker deems highly unlikely.

   "I'm going to clean your whole house." "As if!"

   • 1903, Morris, Frank, The Pit: A Story of Chicago, New York: Doubleday, Page & Co., OL 13537512M, page 10:

     “Better wait, hadn't you, Laura,” said Aunt Wess’, “and see. Maybe he'll come up and speak to us.” “Oh, as if!” contradicted Laura.

Translations

Anagrams

• AFIS
• ISAF
• saif