false excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "false excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a justification or reason that is not true or valid. Example: "He tried to use a false excuse to avoid attending the meeting, but we saw through his deception."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In a statement released Sunday, he said Israel was trying "to find a false excuse to escalate the aggression against the Palestinians" and "to destroy the Egyptian efforts to improve the calm".

The New York Times

In this regard, some have suggested that academic dishonesty includes misrepresentation which includes providing a false excuse to gain an assignment extension or deferment of an exam (Whitley and Keith-Spiegel 2002).

International Journal for Educational Integrity

SB 1 was instead chosen since it "saved more money," while legislators offered the false excuse of the state of Illinois not having enough money.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This is a budget based on rewritten history and false excuses.

The Guardian

So do what you say you are going to do and do not make false excuses.

Huffington Post

Those participants who stopped lying -- exaggerating their accomplishments, making false excuses for being late and evading uncomfortable questions -– had a significant improvement in their health.

Huffington Post

"My husband and I both feel that what Cook County did is, once they found DNA, instead of pursuing [the suspect] Michael [Gargiulo], they made false excuses on why DNA was on her.

Huffington Post

Giving false excuses may be misunderstood as an opportunity to convince you to go out with them.

WikiHow

Even the certainty that some veterans' claims of reactivated war trauma are false does not excuse the failure to treat other veterans who are suffering.

The New York Times

The Oxford Dictionaries definition for "trump something up", in phrasal verb form, is "invent a false accusation or excuse".

Huffington Post

While that would not excuse making false entries in the bank's records, a trader could argue that it was not intended to falsify information because the person thought the prices were in fact accurate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "false excuse", ensure the context clearly indicates deception or a lack of genuine justification. For emphasis, consider pairing it with strong verbs like "fabricate" or "invent".

Common error

Avoid using "false excuse" when someone is genuinely mistaken or misinformed, as it implies intentional deception. In such cases, "inaccurate reason" or "mistaken explanation" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "false excuse" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "false" modifies the noun "excuse". Ludwig AI indicates that it is used to describe a reason or explanation that is untrue or fabricated.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "false excuse" is used to describe an untrue or fabricated reason given as a justification. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, though it's not exceptionally common. Analysis reveals its use spans various contexts, especially News & Media, emphasizing deception or insincerity. For alternative phrasings, consider "deceptive excuse" or "spurious excuse" for more nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

false justification

Changes the noun from "excuse" to "justification", implying a more formal or elaborate attempt to defend an action.

false reason

Replaces "excuse" with "reason", a more general term for why something happened or was done.

deceptive excuse

Replaces "false" with "deceptive", emphasizing the intent to mislead.

false alibi

Specifically refers to a fabricated story to provide an explanation of someone's whereabouts to evade guilt.

disingenuous excuse

Replaces "false" with "disingenuous", highlighting the lack of sincerity in the excuse.

phony excuse

Replaces "false" with "phony", implying that the excuse is not real or genuine.

spurious excuse

Replaces "false" with "spurious", suggesting the excuse is illegitimate and lacks validity.

wrong excuse

Uses a more direct and simple term to indicate that the excuse is not correct or appropriate.

fake excuse

Substitutes "false" with "fake", meaning not genuine or real.

baseless excuse

Highlights the lack of foundation or evidence for the stated excuse.

FAQs

What does "false excuse" mean?

A "false excuse" refers to a reason or justification given for something that is not true or is deliberately misleading. It implies an attempt to deceive or avoid responsibility.

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

You might say, "He offered a "false excuse" for being late, claiming traffic was terrible when it was a holiday".

What are some alternatives to saying "false excuse"?

Alternatives include "deceptive excuse", "phony excuse", or "spurious excuse". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between a "false excuse" and a "bad excuse"?

Yes, a "bad excuse" may be true but unconvincing or inadequate. A "false excuse" is inherently untrue and intended to deceive. For example a "bad excuse" may be "I didn't finish the work because I was tired", while a "false excuse" might be "I didn't do the work because I didn't receive the instructions" when you really did.