Absurd pretence (7)
I believe the answer is:
charade
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">absurd pretence</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(a ridiculous pretence or show)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for charade that I've seen before include "absurd act" , "Blatant deception" , "Farcical pretence" , "Travesty, mockery" , "sham" .)