ruse
[ rooz ]
a trick, stratagem, or artifice
USE 1
The spy used a clever ruse to gain access to the classified documents, pretending to be a maintenance worker.
USE 2
To avoid going to school, he concocted a ruse involving a fake fever and a well-timed cough.
USE 3
Their apparent retreat was a ruse to draw the enemy into an ambush where they least expected it.
