空そらを使つかう

expression, godan verb (-u)

pretend not to know; feign ignorance

Used when someone deliberately acts as if they don't know something, often to avoid responsibility or awkwardness. Related to 空とぼける.

See also: 空惚ける

• 彼かれはその件けんについて空そらを使つかった。

  He pretended not to know about that matter.

• 都つ合ごうが悪わるくなると、彼かの女じょはいつも空そらを使つかう。

  Whenever things get awkward, she always feigns ignorance.

expression, godan verb (-u)

tell a lie; lie

A somewhat old-fashioned or literary way to say 'to lie'. In modern casual speech, 嘘をつく is far more common.

• 彼かれは平へい気きで空そらを使つかう男おとこだ。

  He is a man who lies without batting an eye.