死しんだふり

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

playing dead; feigning death; playing possum

Refers to the act of pretending to be dead, either by animals as a defense mechanism or by people in a figurative or literal sense.

• その虫むしは危き険けんを感かんじると死しんだふりをする。

  That insect plays dead when it senses danger.

• 彼かれは気きまずい会かい話わから逃のがれるために死しんだふりをした。

  He played dead to escape the awkward conversation.