feigning ignorance; acting dumb
Used when someone pretends not to know something, often to avoid responsibility or an awkward situation.
He always pretends not to know when things get awkward.
I pretended not to know and got through the situation.
Standard spelling using hiragana for ふり.
Kanji spelling for ふり; less common but still seen.
A set phrase combining 知らない (negative of 知る, 'to know') and ふり ('pretending'). The expression is transparent and modern.