make excuses

Related to word: excuse

Pharse

Definition

  1. To provide an explanation for one's inability to attend a specific event or meeting.

    • I am unable to attend the meeting on Friday; please make my excuses to everyone there.

    • When the singing began, I decided it was time to make my excuses and leave.

    • Feeling uncomfortable in that group, she made her excuses and vanished into the night.

  2. To offer insincere or fabricated reasons to avoid fulfilling a responsibility or task.

    • You are always making excuses for not helping me.

    • I'm not making excuses, but I've been really stressed recently.

    • I asked him why he didn't clean the bedroom, and he just made excuses.