Definition

1. Verb Phrase:
   • To use as a pretext; to use as an excuse: To give a reason, often a false or insincere one, to justify an action or to avoid a responsibility or an unwanted situation.

Usage Examples

• Verb Phrase:
  • Nó lấy cớ nhức đầu không đi học. (He used a headache as a pretext not to go to school.)
  • Cô ấy lấy cớ bận để từ chối lời mời. (She used being busy as an excuse to decline the invitation.)
  • Đừng lấy cớ thời tiết xấu cho việc trễ hẹn. (Don't use the bad weather as an excuse for being late.)

Advanced Usage

• "lấy cớ là...": This common structure translates to "to use the pretext that..." or "to claim that... as an excuse".
  • Anh ta lấy cớ là xe hỏng để giải thích cho sự vắng mặt. (He used the pretext that his car broke down to explain his absence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Viện cớ (v): to allege, to plead. This is a more formal synonym.

  • Hắn viện cớ ốm để nghỉ làm. (He pleaded illness to take a day off work.)

• Bào chữa (v): to defend, to justify. This focuses more on arguing in defense rather than giving an initial excuse.

  • Luật sư bào chữa cho thân chủ. (The lawyer defended his client.)

Synonyms

• To pretext: To allege or cite as a pretext.
• To make an excuse: To offer a reason for a fault or failure.
• To plead: To allege or assert in defense or justification.

Related Idioms

• Có cớ: To have a pretext/an excuse; to find a reason.

  • Giờ nó có cớ để về sớm rồi. (Now he has an excuse to go home early.)

• Mượn cớ: Similar to "lấy cớ", meaning to borrow a pretext.

  • Họ mượn cớ đi mua đồ để rời khỏi cuộc họp. (They borrowed the pretext of going shopping to leave the meeting.)

1. use as a pretext
   • lấy cớ nhức đầu không đi học
     To use as a pretext a headache not to go to school