Hoke

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To contrive or produce something with obvious artificiality or insincere theatricality
2. To create or present in a manner that is deliberately overdone or phony
3. To construct or perform in an exaggerated way that lacks genuine authenticity or sincerity

Etymology: The spelling "hoke" has more than one origin. One line runs from Old English "hōc" through Middle English "hoke", a word for a hook or a bend. Another connects it to the root of "holk", meaning a hollow cavity, which is also behind Scots "howk", a verb for digging. The sense most people know, adding something false or overdone, comes from "hokum", the slang for sentimental, contrived material. To hoke something up is to pad it with cheap effects, so the meaning moved from a physical shape to a staged, artificial quality.

Synonyms: trick, ruse, scheme