History Main / FeigningIntelligence

* In a ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode, Joey memorized details about all the artwork in a gallery, then messed it up as he got left and right confused. And in another episode, whilst writing a letter to an adoption agency, he uses a thesaurus to increase his vocabulary. Hearts become "Aortic pumps" and so on.

** Brian becomes this in the series' [[UnCancelled post-cancellation episodes (Season 4 to the present time),]] but in a far more [[KnowNothingKnowItAll insufferable way.]] While certainly very intelligent for an animal (seeing as how he can talk, walk on two legs, get a job, drive a car, etc.) and definitely has a lot more common sense than some of the human characters on the show (especially when compared to Peter), Brian's not nearly as intelligent or sophisticated as he likes to think he is. For example:
*** He uses words he doesn't know.

*** He's just a general, all-around hypocrite (which he is often called out on, especially in later episodes).

Compare with SmallNameBigEgo.

** Brian becomes this in the [[UnCancelled post-cancellation episodes]], but in a far more [[KnowNothingKnowItAll insufferable way]]. While he's certainly very intelligent for a domesticated dog -- seeing as how he can talk, walk on two legs, get a job and drive a car -- and he's definitely got way more common sense than some of the human characters on the show (especially Peter), he's really not that intelligent by human standards. For example: he uses words he doesn't know, often claims to read things like classic literature (but is almost never shown reading any kind of books), and is just a general, all-around hypocrite. One specific example comes from a time travel episode, where Brian pretends he already knows what Stewie is talking about by pretending to finish Stewie's sentence. Stewie, who isn't fooled for an instant, tells him not to do that.

* One of the reasons thought to have contributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Creator/{{Socrates}}' execution was that he went around pissing off people in power (such as politicians, and, more drastically, religious figures) off by asserting they were doing this.

* One of the reasons thought to have contributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates' execution was that he went around pissing off people in power (such as politicians, and, more drastically, religious figures) off by asserting they were doing this.

* ''Film/MrMom'': Jack is trying to impress his wife's boss with his skill in home renovations. When the boss asks if he's doing a new room in "two-twenty" (a standard voltage for wiring), Jack looks blankly at him for a moment before responding, "Yeah, two-twenty... two-twenty-one... whatever it takes!"

* ''Series/TheOfficeUK'': In one episode, Brent is trying to impress the new intern with his knowledge, but the intern keeps referencing things he doesn't know anything about. Later, Brent will reappear and start spouting facts about the topic the intern had previously mentioned, having obviously just googled the topic. Each time, however, the intern will transition into another topic Brent doesn't know about.

'''Wanda:''' Yes they do, Otto. They just don't understand it. Now let me correct you on a couple of things, OK? Creator/{{Aristotle}} was not [[UsefulNotes/{{Belgium}} Belgian]]. The central message of UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} is not "Every man for himself." And UsefulNotes/TheLondonUnderground is not a [[LaResistance political movement]]. Those are all [[CriticalResearchFailure mistakes]], [[KnowNothingKnowItAll Otto!]] I looked them up!

* Anyone who's ever taken a literature-based course in school can tell you that anyone can write a decent paper or do a decent presentation on a book or a play you've never even read as long as you at least make it ''sound'' like you've read it.
* Similar to the above, it's said that you can make yourself sound intelligent or of high authority by merely acting like you already are. Big words and a stern voice, respectively, help out with that.

** Ainz is able to cast magic of the tenth tier and above. TheArchmage Fluder, who can only cast sixth-tier magic, begs to become Ainz' apprentice. Ainz was brought in as his YGGDRASSIL character and thus has no idea how magic works, so he settles for giving him books on magic and hoping he'll find something.
** Although this is partly subverted, as it's shown Ainz '''is''' quite intelligent - most shown notably on how he played Shaltear like fiddle during their fight, or how he is able to pretty masterfully improvise on spot. He just isn't the nigh-omniscient EvilGenius he is taken for. As mentioned above, FeigningIntelligence also isn't ''entirelly'' intentional on Ainz's part, and often a result of Nazarick's [=NPCs=] and others overinterpreting Ainz's actions.

* "[[MemeticMutation You see]], I come from a highly educated university. So when I get out here in front of all this white trash, I got to dumb myself down." That said, Wrestling/ScottSteiner does seem to be fairly educated and knowledgeable, demonstrating understanding of many scientific theories and the ability to complete complicated mathematical equations even if his constant [[ArtisticLicenseGeography geographical failures]] and {{logical fallac|y}}ies prove him nowhere near as intelligent as he make himself out to be.[[/folder]]

* "[[MemeticMutation You see]], I graduated from a highly educated university. So when I get out here in front of all this white trash, I got to dumb myself down." That said, Wrestling/ScottSteiner does seem to be fairly educated and knowledgeable, demonstrating understanding of many scientific theories and the ability to complete complicated mathematical equations even if his constant [[ArtisticLicenseGeography geographical failures]] and {{logical fallac|y}}ies prove him nowhere near as intelligent as he make himself out to be.[[/folder]]

* "[[MemeticMutation You see]], I graduated from a highly educated university. So when I get out here in front of all this white trash, I got to dumb myself down." That said, Wrestling/ScottSteiner does seem to be fairly educated and knowledgeable, demonstrating understanding of many scientific theories and the ability to complete complicated mathematical equations even if his constant [[ArtisticLicenseGeography geographical failures]] and {{logical fallac|y}}ies prove nowhere near as intelligent as he make himself out to be.[[/folder]]

Tends to show up in characters who are so dumb, they don't even realize that DumbIsGood. Frequently involves the use of NerdGlasses. As with ObfuscatingStupidity, HilarityEnsues frequently from a stupid confusion or DoubleEntendre conversation. This often results in DelusionsOfEloquence. See also KnowNothingKnowItAll.

* Foggy Dewhurst from ''Series/LastOfTheSummerWine'' had more or less convinced himself that he knew everything based on the simple fact that he was Foggy Dewhurst. On one occasion, he convinced himself that he had to know what a "Loxely Lozenge" was simply because he existed and must've heard it at some point and simply needed to bring it to the front of his mind. He thought it was a cough drop. Turns out it was a very rare automobile. He then stubbornly tried to convince the others he'd been speaking in code in case others had been listening in, and while they weren't fooled, he managed to fool himself.

** Brian becomes this in the [[UnCancelled post-cancellation episodes]], but in a far more [[InsufferableGenius insufferable way]]. While he's certainly very intelligent for a domesticated dog -- seeing as how he can talk, walk on two legs, get a job and drive a car -- and he's definitely got way more common sense than some of the human characters on the show (especially Peter), he's really not that intelligent by human standards. For example: he uses words he doesn't know, often claims to read things like classic literature (but is almost never shown reading any kind of books), and is just a general, all-around hypocrite. One specific example comes from a time travel episode, where Brian pretends he already knows what Stewie is talking about by pretending to finish Stewie's sentence. Stewie, who isn't fooled for an instant, tells him not to do that.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Fan Fic]]
* In ''[[FanFic/EquestriaAHistoryRevealed Equestria: A History Revealed]]'', the in-universe author and narrator, Loose Change seems to be a shining example of this. It doesn't help that the fic is supposed to be her academic essay that's she's submitting to her University, and any hopes of her maintaining academic professionalism and integrity are gone by Chapter 2. She still maintains that she's "smarter than the rest of those traditionalist historians", despite clear evidence that she's not.

[[folder:Film]]

* Played straight for most of the remake of ''Film/ThePinkPanther2006''... mostly. As an example, after hearing a murder victim's last words were "Oh, it's you!", Clouseau orders all people in the city with the name "Yu" to be detained for interrogation. Naturally, he's saddled up with a Chinese woman rattling off in Chinese. After the interrogation, his partner asks if he can even understand Chinese. Clouseau acts all offended and replies something along the lines of "Do you think I would do all this if I didn't understand Chinese?" [[spoiler:Seeing as he's been FeigningIntelligence for most of the movie, his partner (and the audience) look unconvinced...until a flashback at the end of the movie reveals that not only did Clouseau actually understand what the woman was saying, she had also given them a vital clue.]]
** Clouseau doesn't pretend to be intelligent, he actually believes he's this massively skilled badass, though granted, when his beliefs betray him [[IMeantToDoThat he will try to play it off as on purpose.]]
** In the [[Franchise/ThePinkPanther original film series]], Creator/PeterSellers [[WordOfGod often commented]] that he played Clouseau as an extremely arrogant man who was nevertheless ''just'' clever enough to realize what a complete imbecile he really was.

-->'''Otto''': Don't call me stupid.\\
'''Wanda''': Oh, right! [[InsultToRocks To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!]] I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQ's. But you think you're an intellectual, don't you, ape?\\
'''Otto''': Apes don't read philosophy.\\
'''Wanda''': Yes they do, Otto. They just don't understand it. Now let me correct you on a couple of things, OK? Creator/{{Aristotle}} was not [[UsefulNotes/{{Belgium}} Belgian]]. The central message of UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} is not "Every man for himself." And UsefulNotes/TheLondonUnderground is not a [[LaResistance political movement]]. Those are all [[CriticalResearchFailure mistakes]], [[KnowNothingKnowItAll Otto!]] I looked them up!"

-->'''Grady''': You mean they're acting so smart because they're so stupid?

* Owl in ''Literature/WinnieThePooh''. When faced with a note that contains more than three words, none of which are his own name or "Thursday", he first tries to trick Rabbit into reading it for him, and then considers pushing Rabbit out of his tree rather than admit he's having problems.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Effie Trinket is probably dumber than a jar of mayonnaise, but she certainly doesn't see it that way.
-->"Everyone has their reservations, naturally. You being from the coal district. But I said, and this was very clever of me, I said, '[[CriticalResearchFailure Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls]]!'"
** Gets a {{callback}} in ''Catching Fire'' by an amused Peeta when he actually finds a pearl.
** At one point, Effie claims to be something of an expert in architecture. Portia only acknowledges this because the silence was getting too long.

* In a ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode, Joey memorized details about all the artwork in a gallery, then messed it up as he got left and right confused.
** And in another episode whilst writing a letter to an adoption agency, he uses a thesaurus to increase his vocabulary. Hearts become "Aortic pumps" and so on.

* "Aaaaaah, Bach!" In an early episode of ''Series/{{MASH}}'', Radar pursues an intellectually-inclined nurse with a handful of bluffs provided to him by Hawkeye and Trapper.
** Incidentally, the book ''[[http://www.ovalbooks.com/bluff/Music.html The Bluffer's Guide to Music]]'' recommends that exact phrase.
* In ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', Sam the Eagle may constantly seek some culture in the show, but considering he thinks [[Music/LudwigVanBeethoven Beethoven]] was a playwright, it's obvious he doesn't know the first thing about culture.
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[TheNthDoctor the Tenth Doctor stated to his younger incarnation]] that he wore his glasses not because he needed them, but because it made him look clever. Of course, the Doctor is very smart to begin with, [[Administrivia/ThereIsNoSuchThingAsNotability but still.]]
** It has also been theorized that the Tenth Doctor, who frequently claims himself to be clever, is double-FeigningIntelligence-ObfuscatingStupidity, or something. (See the Poirot example above.)
** The Doctor has been getting into trouble by pretending to be more knowledgeable than he actually is since ''The Aztecs'' in 1964.

* [[Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow Ted Baxter]] used to pull this one off with regularity - one instance in particular stands out.
--> '''Ted's son:''' Mother, I ''abhor'' you!
--> '''Ted:''' Now son, I'll have none of that language in this house!

* ''Series/{{Cory in the House}}'': Newt is forced to do this when he develops a crush on a new girl at school who is a childhood genius and starts to worry that she might not like him if he wasn't as smart as her.

* In the ''Series/{{Shake It Up}}'' episode "Opposites Attracts It Up", [=CeCe=] starts dating a science nerd named James and forces Rocky to help her in {{Playing Cyrano}} to be more at his level.
** [=CeCe=] does this again in a later episode when she goes on a date with a blind guy who is also too smart for her and pretends to like whatever he likes.
* DoubleSubverted with [[spoiler: Eugene]] in ''Series/TheWalkingDead.'' While not [[spoiler: a CDC researcher who can cure the virus]] as he claims to be for most of his first arc, he has nonetheless proven himself to be a JackOfAllTrades, a master of XanatosSpeedChess, and very, very good at solving potentially deadly lateral thinking puzzles. It seems inceasingly clear that both before and after the ZombieApocalypse, the only thing keeping him from achieving true RenaissanceMan status has been a complete lack of unfeigned self-confidence. Well, that and some... [[LethalKlutz moderate coordination issues]].

* The player can become this in the original ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 1}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'' by taking the Smooth Talker perk. Each level of the perk increases their effective intelligence attribute for the purposes of dialogue choices only. So in other words, the player does not actually become smarter, they just ''sound'' smarter than they actually are when they talk.

* Wheatley from ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''. Highlights include [[PercussiveMaintenance "using a manual override on this wall"]], playing classical music to convince [=GLaDOS=] of his intelligence, claiming to have read every book in existence and claiming the "ace of fours" is the best hand of cards, among several others.

* At one point in ''{{VideoGame/Anachronox}}'', the party has to board a ship to a planet of scientists, and the passengers all have to prove they are up on the latest scientific discoveries. This is a problem for the very BookDumb Sly, who can't even spell the name of the planet the game is named after. He ends up having to fake speaking a made-up language so that his RobotBuddy (who downloaded a database on cutting edge research) can "translate" the correct answers for him.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Simmons from ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' is zigzagging with this trope. While he is the [[SmartGuy Unofficial Science Officer]] of the series and good with computers, he's also been stated to be less intelligent than he thinks he is and will abuse the fact that the people around him are either too lazy, stupid or insane to call him out on making stuff up.
-->'''Simmons:''' If you want me to multiply two big numbers in my head, that I can do.\\
'''Grif:''' What's thirty-two times fifty-six?[[note]]1792[[/note]]\\
'''Simmons:''' [[BlatantLies Thirty-one thousand, four-hundred fifty-two.]]\\
'''Sarge''': ''(towards Simmons)'' Is that right?\\
'''Simmons:''' Yes.
* [[http://www.xkcdb.com/?5414 This]] ''WebComic/{{xkcd}}'' quote demonstrating what a politician trying to get away with knowing little outside of rehearsed "hot topics" can run into.

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Homer Simpson]] chooses to wear a pair of nerd glasses that were dropped in the toilet by Henry Kissinger. Unbeknownst to Homer, Mr. Burns then assumes he's an egghead and decides not to fire him during a round of job cuts.
* [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter Griffin]] becomes convinced he's a genius, but needless to say fails at acting the part. For example, he misapplies "shallow and pedantic," a phrase he heard two political pundits using, to criticize Lois's cooking.
** Brian becomes this in the [[UnCancelled post-cancellation episodes]], but in a far more [[InsufferableGenius insufferable way]]. While he's certainly very intelligent for a domesticated dog--seeing as how he can talk, walk on two legs, get a job and drive a car--and he's definitely got way more common sense than some of the human characters on the show (especially Peter), he's really not that intelligent by human standards. For example: he uses words he doesn't know, often claims to read things like classic literature (but is almost never shown reading any kind of books), and is just a general, all around hypocrite.
*** One specific example comes from a time travel episode, where Brian pretends he already knows what Stewie is talking about by pretending to finish Stewie's sentence. Stewie, who isn't fooled for an instant, tells him not to do that.

** Similar to the above, it's said that you can make yourself sound intelligent or of high authority by merely acting like you already are. Big words and a stern voice, respectively, help out with that.

%% Please see thread to discuss a new image.

* In one ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' cartoon, Strong Bad tries to get Homestar to say something intelligent, even dressing him up with a lab coat, glasses, and a test tube. ("Check it out, Strong Bad, I look a-smart!" "You sure do, stupid.") However, Homestar managed to turn it around on him and get Strong Bad to say something stupid.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Portal 2}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_lpuqkbYUNE1qk0oipo1_500_3153.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Oh, pardon me. I was just, y'know, reading up on some Machiavelli. Which I do all the time, of course. Because that's what smart robots do."]]

* [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by HerculePoirot as his standard method of ObfuscatingStupidity - he is boastful in order to make his opponents think he is feigning intelligence, when in fact he really ''is'' that smart.

* The main character in ''TheDeathOfTheVazirMukhtar'' is [[MaliciousSlander sometimes accused]] of writing or at least editing the correspondence of General Ivan Paskevich, his in-law and sort-of superior in the Caucasus, so as to make him seem smarter. That is apparently untrue, although Paskevich might be considered a mild example of this trope nonetheless.