- an excuse for
- informal a poor or inadequate example of.→ excuse
English new terms dictionary. 2014.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.
excuse for — /iks kūsˈ/ A very poor example of • • • Main Entry: ↑excuse … Useful english dictionary
Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Lynching and the Excuse for It (1901) — ▪ Primary Source In the twenty years after 1885 there were more lynchings in the United States than legal executions. The great majority of victims were African Americans, who, after a brief period of political power in the South during… … Universalium
ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it — There is a hoary L. legal maxim: ignorantia iuris neminem excusat, ignorance of the law excuses nobody. c 1412 T. HOCCLEVE De Regimene Principum (EETS) 92 Excuse schal hym naght his ignorance. 1530 C. ST. GERMAN Dialogues in English II. xlvi.… … Proverbs new dictionary
(a) pathetic excuse for something — a pathetic/poor/sad/excuse for something informal phrase someone or something that is of very bad quality We have a failing economy and a pathetic excuse for a President. Thesaurus: something that is of very bad quality … Useful english dictionary
(a) poor excuse for something — a pathetic/poor/sad/excuse for something informal phrase someone or something that is of very bad quality We have a failing economy and a pathetic excuse for a President. Thesaurus: something that is of very bad quality … Useful english dictionary
(a) sad excuse for something — a pathetic/poor/sad/excuse for something informal phrase someone or something that is of very bad quality We have a failing economy and a pathetic excuse for a President. Thesaurus: something that is of very bad quality … Useful english dictionary
there is no excuse for something — 1) used for emphasizing that you think someone s behaviour is very bad There s no excuse for her talking to you like that. 2) used for saying that someone should definitely do something She only lives five minutes away, so there s really no… … English dictionary
Excuse — Ex*cuse , n. [Cf. F. excuse. See {Excuse}, v. t.] 1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation. [1913 Webster] Pleading so wisely in excuse of it … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
excuse — [ek skyo͞oz′, ikskyo͞oz′; ] for n. [, ekskyo͞os′] vt. excused, excusing [ME excusen < OFr escuser & L excusare, to free from a charge < L ex , from + causa, a charge: see CAUSE] 1. to try to free (a person) of blame; seek to exonerate 2. to … English World dictionary
excuse — ► VERB 1) seek or serve to justify (a fault or offence). 2) release from a duty or requirement. 3) forgive (a fault or a person committing one). 4) (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering. 5) (excuse oneself) say… … English terms dictionary