kayfabe

Etymology

Unknown, but attributed to US carnival slang ("carny"), usually as a purposefully obscure variant of the admonition "be fake" formed through back slang or mangled pig Latin. Also sometimes attributed to an alteration of cave (Latin for "beware"), keep cavey ("stay alert"), or an eponymous figure named Kay Fabe or Kay Fabian.

noun

1. (professional wrestling) The act, situation, or code of portraying staged events, performances, rivalries, etc as authentic or spontaneous.
   "Jack, Gordon and I were talking about how we heard Ric Flair do an interview where he said there was no such thing as kay-fabe any more," said Blair, referring to the fact most wrestler secrets were exposed in the 1990s. 2001 April 27, Alex Marvez, "Grappling for the Right Words?", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, p. 44
   Suddenly, I heard a shout behind me: "Kayfabe! Kayfabe!" It was Gagne, freaking out and twitching and gesturing. He was afraid that some of the marks would see us in such close proximity and wonder why I wasn't choking out Wahoo with the velvet rope leading to the reservation counter, or carving him up with the ticket agent's pen. The thing was that, with the exception of the AWA guys, the terminal was empty. 2006, Eldridge Wayne Coleman & al., Tangled Ropes, p. 143
   I've been breaking kayfabe a lot lately and it's bad, completely unprofessional. 2013, Saul Lemerond, "Cowboys in Rainbow City", Kayfabe & Other Stories, p. 45
2. (figurative) Similar fakery or suspension of disbelief in other contexts.
   Business historian Fiona A. E. McQuarrie has noted that the concept of kayfabe is not uncommon outside the realm of professional wrestling, as many corporations "formally require their members to maintain public silence on company issues or not to express any explicit criticism of the company, through such means as employment contracts or through contracts governing severance or termination of employment." 2013, Eero Laine, “Professional Wrestling”, in American History through American Sports, Vol. I, page 226
   The Republican brand will be tarnished even more as mainstream media outlets and late-night comedians gleefully broadcast Moore’s asininity to the broader public. But, yeah, sure: It’ll be entertaining for people who now follow politics like it’s one long pro-wrestling kayfabe. 2017 September 29, Jonah Goldberg, "Roy Moore: Gladiator", National Review

adj

1. (professional wrestling) Of or related to kayfabe, especially forbidden to mention or show in order to maintain kayfabe.
   My wife... currently serves as a Florida State Senator... My kayfabe wife has enormous fake breasts, bleach blonde hair, and a nose that is too small for her face. 2013, Saul Lemerond, "Cowboys in Rainbow City", Kayfabe & Other Stories, pp. 43–4

verb

1. (professional wrestling) To maintain kayfabe, to deceive by staying in character.
   ...Mascaras was never one of the boys. Here's an example: after his matches, he'd shower with his mask on. I understand protecting your image, but the guy was kayfabing us. 2006, Eldridge Wayne Coleman & al., Tangles Ropes, p. 97
   He joked around with me and had me laughing so hard that it was tough not to feel silly about being "kayfabed. 2013, Julie Hart, Hart Strings, page 54