strike a false note

Definitions

To give the impression of being insincere, incongruous or inappropriate.

idiomatic

Examples

“But she crossed out “I do understand⟳”; it struck a false note⟳. Henry could not bear⟳ to be understood.”

“He dressed in a mannered fashion with turned-back cuffs and double⟳ slits to his coat, bow-ties and fancy waistcoats. He made a good-living, wine-and-food-society impression in which only the slow, rather cunning blue eyes struck a false note⟳.”

“He knew what stories to whisper⟳ and when not to tell⟳ stories at all and knew, too, when the business was over, never to make⟳ reference to what had been said. ¶ Put⟳ simply this was a man who had learned never to strike⟳ a false note⟳.”

CEFR level