a convenient excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

"a convenient excuse" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts to mean an excuse that is easy or opportune to use in a certain situation. For example: - She always had a convenient excuse for not finishing her homework on time. - His sudden illness seemed like a convenient excuse to avoid attending the party. - The company's financial troubles were a convenient excuse for laying off employees. - The politician's scandal was just a convenient excuse for their opponents to attack them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pakistan became a convenient excuse.

The New York Times

A convenient excuse for philandering?

The New York Times

Critics call that a convenient excuse.

The New York Times

That was just a convenient excuse.

The New York Times - Books

"I'm just a convenient excuse right now," Mr. Newsom said.

The New York Times

But the yen is also a convenient excuse.

The Economist

For a long time, the budget was a convenient excuse.

The New York Times - Sports

It's certainly a convenient excuse for our current position".

The Guardian - Sport

"Political rivalry is a convenient excuse," he says.

The Guardian

That's a convenient excuse for apathy, but it's not true.

The Guardian

That's a convenient excuse for the managers to pass up the chain".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a convenient excuse", be mindful of the potential negative connotation. It often implies that the excuse is not genuine or is used to avoid responsibility. Consider whether a more direct and honest explanation would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid relying on "a convenient excuse" repeatedly in your writing. This can make your arguments seem weak and insincere. Strive for more specific and compelling reasons to support your claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a convenient excuse" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a reason or explanation that is easily accessible and often used to avoid responsibility or justify an action, as evidenced by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a convenient excuse" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes a reason or explanation readily available, often to avoid responsibility or scrutiny. Ludwig's analysis reveals that the phrase carries a neutral tone, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, its use can imply skepticism about the given reason's validity. As suggested by Ludwig AI, being aware of the potential negative connotations when using the expression is important. Alternatives such as "a plausible pretext" or "a handy justification" may be more appropriate depending on the specific situation and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a handy justification

Changes the noun from 'excuse' to 'justification', implying a more proactive attempt to defend an action.

a plausible pretext

Replaces 'excuse' with 'pretext', suggesting a more deceptive or concealed motive.

a ready-made alibi

Substitutes 'excuse' with 'alibi', indicating a planned defense against accusation.

an easy rationalization

Employs 'rationalization' instead of 'excuse', implying an attempt to make something seem reasonable.

a superficial explanation

Uses 'explanation' in place of 'excuse', highlighting the lack of depth or sincerity.

a flimsy excuse

Replaces "convenient" with "flimsy" which stresses the poor quality of the excuse.

a transparent dodge

Employs 'dodge' instead of 'excuse', highlighting an attempt to avoid something.

a shallow justification

Replaces "excuse" with "justification" which implies a more proactive defense of an action

a poor substitute

Employs "substitute" implying a lacking a valid or satisfactory response.

a weak reason

Substituting 'excuse' with 'reason', highlighting the lack of strength and validity of it.

FAQs

How can I use "a convenient excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "a convenient excuse" to describe a reason that is easily available or used to avoid responsibility. For example, "His illness was "a convenient excuse" for missing the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "a convenient excuse"?

Some alternatives include "a plausible pretext", "a handy justification", or "a ready-made alibi", depending on the context.

Is it always negative to use "a convenient excuse"?

While often implying insincerity, using "a convenient excuse" isn't inherently negative. It can simply describe a readily available reason, though awareness of the potential connotation is crucial.

What's the difference between "a convenient excuse" and "a valid reason"?

"A convenient excuse" often suggests the reason is used primarily for personal benefit or to avoid blame, while "a valid reason" implies a legitimate and justifiable cause.