blanket excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'blanket excuse' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a catch-all excuse, or an excuse that can be applied to any situation. For example, "She had a blanket excuse for any problem she encountered: 'It's not my fault.'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This becomes a blanket excuse.

Harvard Business Review

Too often, a call for non-violence becomes a blanket excuse to do nothing and maintain the status quo.

The Guardian - Opinion

Seeing what I was thinking about, written down, had interfered with the organic nature and was off-kilter — at least that sounded right as a simple blanket excuse.

The New York Times

There's a lazy blanket excuse for chaos that feels like a bit of a cop-out, covering any offbeat direction the film chooses to take.

The Guardian - Film

I remember as a kid the blanket excuse for "magic" and cinema special effects was "it's all mirrors," and today, people rationalize everything with "it's all computers".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Obama can either issue a blanket pardon, excusing the responsible party from prosecution, or he can hand it off to the Justice Department for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

HuffPost

Rather than just withering away, blanketed in excuses of political constraint and legal complexities, it needs to be shuttered with a clear declaration of rights and wrongs.

The Washington Post

"The UK government's GCHQ monitoring service invoked a blanket exemption that excuses it from any obligation to be transparent about its activities to the British public," said PI. Eric King, deputy director of PI, said: "More than a year after Snowden, the British government continues to dodge the question of just how integrated the operations of GCHQ and NSA truly are.

The Guardian

That history has coloured America's attitude towards online gambling and caused it to proceed more cautiously than most European countries.But using that history as an excuse for inaction or blanket bans of online gambling would be a mistake.

The Economist

Autumn brings colder weather, changing leaves, and an excuse to cuddle up beneath blankets for a movie day.

Huffington Post

And if it's winter, bundle up! Lower the thermostat for that excuse to cuddle up in a blanket with a glass of hot cocoa.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blanket excuse" when you want to emphasize that an excuse is being applied broadly, often inappropriately, to cover various situations or behaviors.

Common error

Avoid using "blanket excuse" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms or more specific descriptions of the excuse being used.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blanket excuse" functions as a noun phrase, where "blanket" modifies "excuse". It often serves as a critical description, highlighting the all-encompassing, and often inadequate, nature of a given justification. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is indeed correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "blanket excuse" is a valid and grammatically correct term used to describe an all-encompassing, often insufficient, justification. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and provides examples from various sources. While not overly common, as shown by Ludwig's example count, its usage spans across news, business, and general contexts. Employing synonyms like ""catch-all excuse"" or "universal justification" can enrich writing, while being mindful of overuse is essential. Understanding the context and implied criticism is key to wielding this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catch-all excuse

Emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the excuse.

one-size-fits-all excuse

Highlights the attempt to apply the same excuse to every situation.

universal justification

Highlights the broad applicability of the reason given.

general pretext

Focuses on the excuse as a facade or deceptive reason.

sweeping rationalization

Implies a broad attempt to make something acceptable.

boilerplate justification

Suggests the excuse is pre-prepared and lacks specific relevance.

overarching alibi

Suggests a comprehensive explanation to avoid blame.

cover-all story

Highlights the attempt to conceal the real reason.

standard explanation

Indicates a routine or typical excuse.

common excuse

It's an excuse that's frequently used.

FAQs

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

You can use "blanket excuse" to describe a justification that is used too broadly or inappropriately, such as: "'It's not my fault' became his "catch-all excuse" for everything that went wrong."

What is a "blanket excuse"?

A "blanket excuse" is a broad, often inadequate justification that is used to cover a wide range of situations or behaviors. It suggests a lack of specific accountability.

Are there situations where using a "blanket excuse" is acceptable?

While technically grammatically correct, using a "blanket excuse" is generally seen negatively as it suggests a lack of individual responsibility. It may be acceptable in informal contexts, but it's often best to avoid in formal settings.

What can I say instead of "blanket excuse"?

You can use alternatives like ""catch-all excuse"", "universal justification", or "general pretext depending on the context".