pretext

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++pre·text /ˈpriːtekst/ noun [countable] REASONa false reason given for an action, in order to hide the real reason 借口，托词pretext for The incident provided the pretext for war. 那个事件成了战争的借口。on/under the pretext of doing something Tom called at her apartment on the pretext of asking for a book. 汤姆借口要一本书去了她的公寓。on/under the pretext that He left immediately on the pretext that he had a train to catch. 他借口要赶火车马上就离开了。 He’ll phone on some pretext or other. 他会以这样或那样的理由打电话的。► see thesaurus at reason

Examples from the Corpus

pretext• Minor offences were sometimes used as a pretext for an arrest.• She couldn't find a pretext to visit Derek at home.• Every adverse employment decision is a pretext for litigation.• He can't recall the man's story but clearly it was a pretext for his accomplice to search the house.• His sore leg was a pretext. He just wanted a day off work.• The boy was simply a beggar: his bundle of newspapers was a pretext, and we called him the Newspaper Boy.• What bothers us more is the seeming predisposition of the federal courts to strike down term-limit laws on just about any pretext.• One pretext disposed of, McClellan found another.• He could of course simply walk out on some pretext - visiting a friend.• He used to spend hours at her house on the pretext of giving her Japanese lessons.• I lingered, on the pretext of finishing half a glass of champagne.• People were moving more slowly and nonchalantly, without the pretext of a destination or purpose.on some pretext• He could of course simply walk out on some pretext - visiting a friend.• He would have Christmas Day off and he would surely call at the vicarage on some pretext or other.Origin pretext (1500-1600) Latin praetextus, from praetexere “to weave in front, make an excuse”

pre·text nounChineseSyllable

given an order Corpus in false reason for action, a

pretext
pre‧text /ˈpriːtekst/

noun [countable]

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: praetextus, from praetexere 'to weave in front, make an excuse'

a false reason given for an action, in order to hide the real reason
pretext for

The incident provided the pretext for war.
on/under the pretext of doing something

Tom called at her apartment on the pretext of asking for a book.
on/under the pretext that

He left immediately on the pretext that he had a train to catch.

He’ll phone on some pretext or other.

THESAURUS

■ a reason that does not seem believable
▪ excuse a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or not done something that you should have done – especially one that is not completely true: She said she couldn’t come because she had to work late, but it was just an excuse. | a feeble excuse (=one that is hard to believe)
▪ pretext especially written an untrue reason that you give for doing or not doing something, in order to hide the real reason: He would often find some pretext to go out in the evening alone. | They used this as a pretext for taking military action.

pre·text

BrE

/ˈpriːtekst/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈpriːtekst/

🔊

noun

~ (for sth/for doing sth) |

~ (to do sth)

a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason; an excuse 借口；托辞

◆The incident was used as a pretext for intervention in the area. 这次事件成了干涉那个地区的借口。

🔊

◆He left the party early

on the pretext of

having work to do. 他借口有事要处理，早早离开了聚会。

🔊

<titled tranID="36" status="1">reason</titled>explanation ◇ grounds ◇ basis ◇ excuse ◇ motive ◇ justification ◇ pretext

These are all words for a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done. 以上各词均指事情发生或做某事的原因、理由、解释。

reason a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth 指某事发生或做某事的原因、理由、解释、道理：◆He said no but he didn't give a reason. 他说不行，但没有说明原因。
explanation a statement, fact or situation that tells you why sth has happened; a reason given for sth 指解释、说明、阐述：◆The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。◆She left the room abruptly without explanation. 她未作解释就突然离开了房间。
grounds (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sth 指说、做或相信某事的充分理由、根据：◆You have no grounds for complaint. 你没有理由抱怨。
basis (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action 指原因、缘由：◆On what basis will this decision be made? 将基于何种原因作出这一决定呢？
excuse a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons 指为自己行为所作的辩护、借口、理由：◆Late again! What's your excuse this time? 又迟到了！你这次有什么借口？◆It gave me an excuse to take the car. 这使我有理由开车去了。
motive a reason that explains sb's behaviour 指动机、原因：◆There seemed to be no motive for the murder. 这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。
justification (rather formal) a good reason why sth exists or is done 指事物存在或做某事的正当理由：◆I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases. 我看不出还能提出什么理由来加税了。

grounds or justification? 用 grounds 还是 justification？

Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do sth. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every, without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law: moral/economic grounds. * justification 用来表示找出或明白做事的理由，或解释要做的事，常与 little、no、some、every、without 和 not any 等词连用。grounds 多指已存在的原因或已决定的（如法律上的）根据：moral/economic grounds（道德／经济原因）。

pretext (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason 指为掩盖做某事（通常为不好的事）的真正理由而找的借口、托辞：◆He left the party early on the pretext of having to work. 他借口有事要处理，早早离开了聚会。

Patterns

(a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for sth
the reason/motive behind sth
on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
(a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification