Future faking
Etymology
A compound of future and faking. The term comes from the psychology of manipulation and narcissistic-abuse discourse, in circulation since the 2010s and popularized in relationship coaching and on social media.
noun · /FYOO-cher FAY-king/
Manipulatively promising a shared future you have no intention of delivering, to keep someone invested.
What it names
It names the tactic of dangling vivid plans — moving in, marriage, a trip — to secure commitment or smooth over problems, with no follow-through. It gives a name to promises used as bait.
Example
He kept describing the house we’d buy "next year" — classic future faking, since he never once looked at listings.
Related idea
Related to love bombing, but future faking specifically weaponizes promises about what’s to come, not present-tense affection.