noun
pretending to be out; feigning absence
Used when someone is actually at home but pretends not to be, typically by not answering the door or phone. Often appears in the phrase 居留守を使う.
セールスマンが来たので、居留守を使った。
When the salesman came, I pretended to be out.
彼は面倒な電話にはよく居留守を使う。
He often pretends to be out for troublesome phone calls.