expression, godan verb (-ru)
pretend to be an expert; act like a know-it-all
Used when someone puts on airs of being knowledgeable or sophisticated, often in a specific field. The phrase implies a slightly affected or pretentious attitude.
See also: 知ったかぶり
彼はワインに詳しいふりをして、通を気取っている。
He pretends to know a lot about wine, acting like a connoisseur.
通を気取って難しい言葉を使うけど、実はあまり理解していない。
He uses difficult words to act like an expert, but he doesn't really understand much.