Learn English – word or a concise expression to describe ‘a person who pretends not to want an object they truly desire’

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According to Wikipedia, accismus 'is a form of irony wherein a person pretends not to want an object they truly desire,' but, I wonder, what is 'a person who pretends not to want an object they truly desire' called — i.e., someone feigning an absence of interest in that which they keenly desire?

While I cannot understand English proverbs, it seems that "fie upon hens, quoth the fox because he could not reach them" could be appropriate in cases like this one, but I would like to know a single word or a concise expression to describe that person, rather than the situation.

Thus, my question is: Is there a word or a concise expression to describe 'a person who pretends not to want an object they truly desire'?

Best Answer

Someone like you described could be feigning indifference (though this can also be used for a variety of reasons such as feigning indifference to being snubbed, being the subject of gossip, etc.):

feign /feɪn/ vb

  1. to put on a show of (a quality or emotion); pretend: to feign innocence

  2. (transitive) to make up; invent: to feign an excuse

  3. (transitive) to copy; imitate

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French feindre to pretend, from Latin fingere to form, shape, invent

indifference /ɪnˈdɪfrəns -fərəns/ n

  1. the fact or state of being indifferent; lack of care or concern

  2. lack of quality; mediocrity

  3. lack of importance; insignificance

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