言い訳

いいわけ【言い訳】

〔言いのがれ， 弁明， 申し開き， 弁解， 釈明， 口実， 強弁〕

**excuse

/ikskjúːs， eks-/ 〖C〗〖U〗〔…に対する〕弁解(行為)；口実 〔for〕

make a poor excuse for avoiding ［to avoid］ work 仕事をさぼるのにへたな言い訳をする

That's a fine excuse. ［しばしば皮肉として］それはお見事な言い訳だよ

make up a likely excuse for being absent 欠席のもっともらしい言い訳をでっち上げる.

pretext

〖C〗〔…の/…する〕弁解， 口実〔of， for/to do〕《◆ excuse より堅い語》.

plea

《正式》［the/one's ～］〔…に対する〕弁解， 口実〔for〕.

pretense

〖U〗［or a ～］見せかけ， ふり；〔…という〕口実〔that節〕.

alibi

〖C〗《略式》〔失敗などに対する〕口実〔for〕.

ifs and buts

《やや略式》弁解， 言い訳《◆否定文では ifs or buts となることもある》.

▲by way of apology 言い訳として

an abject apology 見えすいた言い訳

a clumsy apology へたな言い訳.

◇ → 言い訳をする

* * *

いいわけ【言い訳】

〔弁明〕 (an) explanation; (a) justification; 〔弁解〕 an excuse; 《文》 (a) vindication.

～する make an excuse 《for being absent》; excuse [explain] oneself; justify [defend, 《文》 exculpate] oneself.

●言い訳するな. Don't make excuses. | Don't try to justify yourself [what you've done].

・病気だ[知らなかった]と言い訳する use illness [ignorance] as an excuse; plead illness [ignorance]

・私のためにいろいろ言い訳してくれた. He said all sorts of things in my defense. | He made various excuses for me.

・どう言い訳しても君が悪い. It's your fault, however you try to justify yourself [whatever you say (by way of excuse)].

●苦しい言い訳 a lame [sorry, poor, pitiful] excuse

・へたな言い訳 a clumsy [an unconvincing] excuse; an excuse that fools no one.

●そんなことをしては言い訳が立たない. There's no excuse for doing that. | Nothing will excuse such behavior.

・そんな言い訳が通ると思っているのか. You don't expect anyone to believe [accept] an excuse like that, do you?

●それは言い訳にしか聞えない. That sounds like just an excuse. | It sounds as though you are just making excuses.

・それは言い訳にならない. That's no excuse. | That doesn't excuse (your behavior [what you did]).

・どんな事情があってもその言い訳にはならない. Whatever the circumstances were, nothing could justify [excuse] it. | There's no excuse for it, whatever the circumstances.

・法律を知らないことは言い訳にはならない. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

●彼女は私の言い訳を聞いてくれるだろうか. I wonder if she'll accept my excuse [explanation].

・遅刻の言い訳をする make an excuse for being late

・言い訳を考え出す find [think up] an excuse; 〔でっち上げる〕 concoct [《口》 cook up] an excuse

・うまい言い訳を考える find a good [wonderful, convincing] excuse 《for…》.

●また例の言い訳か. The same old excuse! | I've heard that excuse before.

・彼は言い訳ばかり言っている. He is full of excuses. | He gives one excuse after another.

・もうその言い訳は聞きあきたよ. I'm fed up with that excuse [explanation].

・そんな言い訳はだめだよ. Excuses like that won't work (with me). | You can't expect me to accept [believe] an excuse like that. | 《口》 That (excuse) won't wash (with me).

・私の行動については何も言い訳がましいことは言わない. I won't attempt to justify [defend, make any excuse(s) for] my conduct. | I won't try to say anything in justification of [explain away] what I did.