under the excuse

USAGE SUMMARY

"under the excuse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are explaining that someone used a particular excuse as a justification for their behavior, or when you have a particular situation or event that was used as an excuse for something else. For example: "They used the bad weather under the excuse of canceling the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They won't see the ramshackle production values passed off under the excuse of end-times wreckage.

The Guardian - Film

It is simply not acceptable for Soca to withhold information of serious public interest three years after the event under the excuse of an 'ongoing police investigation'".

Independent

But "aspiration" in the political context has become a byword for a politics of self-interest, an acceptance of inequality under the excuse that we live in a genuinely meritocratic society.

Independent

However, the sight of an aging bearded man, his face red with lust, about to force his attentions upon a naked woman asleep on a couch is not everyone's cup of tea, not even under the excuse of dealing with the mythological theme of "Jupiter and Antiope".

The New York Times - Arts

"We will not allow writers to insult Hinduism and our gods and goddesses under the excuse of scholarly research". His mission has prompted concern among free-speech advocates about what they see as a growing climate of intolerance, as well as the possibility that Hindu vigilante groups will flourish under the Hindu nationalist government that came to power in May under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Guardian

However, today "sex" includes oral sex and other acts, so the rug has been pulled out from under the excuse of "I want to remain a virgin".

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

At under 200 pages, the excuse could be made that it's too slight a volume, but Morrison pieces together Booker's back-story in a single chapter that nestles at the heart of the novel like a smooth, polished pebble, proving that concision is not the issue here.

BBC

Many entrepreneurs and B2B owners would lump themselves under that category with the excuse: "It's just the nature of what we do," but it doesn't have to be that way.

HuffPost

The couple placed advertisements explaining their decision in the Israeli newspapers under the headline: "Excuse us for wanting to make a donation".

The New York Times

Under the umbrella excuse of "looking for guns or outstanding warrants", armies of cops now fan out into poor neighbourhoods and scoop up masses of residents on the thinnest of pretexts.

The Guardian

Not because of the writer, but because the conceit sounds as if it could be woeful: yet another lengthy fossicking around our country by a journalist to find out who we are and how we got here, this time under the spurious excuse of necessity in the year of the Jubilee and Olympics.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under the excuse" when you want to express skepticism or disapproval of the reason being given. It often implies that the excuse is not the real reason or is inadequate.

Common error

Avoid using "under the excuse" when a genuine, valid reason exists. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the justification is questionable or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under the excuse" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the stated, but often doubted, reason for an action or situation. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "under the excuse" is a prepositional phrase used to express doubt or skepticism about a stated reason. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and suitable for various writing contexts, though leaning towards a neutral to informal register. The phrase sees frequent usage in News & Media, implying the writer or speaker questions the validity of the excuse. When using "under the excuse", be mindful of the subtle implication that the stated reason is not the complete or genuine motivation behind the action. Alternative phrases such as "as a pretext" or "under the guise of" can offer similar nuanced expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a pretext

Focuses on the deceptive nature of the excuse, highlighting it as a false reason.

on the pretext of

Emphasizes the stated reason, often suggesting it's not the real one.

under the guise of

Highlights the attempt to conceal the true nature of an action or motive.

using as a cover

Implies the excuse is used to hide something else, acting as a shield.

ostensibly for

Indicates the stated reason is what appears to be the case, but may not be true.

allegedly for

Indicates the reason given is based on an allegation that may or may not be proven.

purportedly for

Similar to 'ostensibly,' suggesting the reason is claimed but possibly false.

claiming as justification

Highlights the act of asserting the excuse as a valid reason.

professing as a reason

Emphasizes the declaration of the excuse, often implying insincerity.

under the color of

Suggests the excuse is used to give a legitimate appearance to something illegitimate.

FAQs

How can I use "under the excuse" in a sentence?

You can use "under the excuse" to express that a stated reason is questionable, such as: "The company delayed the project "under the excuse of" 'unforeseen circumstances'".

What are some alternatives to using "under the excuse"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as a pretext", "on the pretext of", or "under the guise of", each subtly altering the nuance of the justification.

Is it always negative to use the phrase "under the excuse"?

While not inherently negative, using "under the excuse" usually implies a degree of skepticism or disbelief regarding the validity or sincerity of the reason being presented.

What is the difference between "under the excuse" and "because of"?

"Because of" indicates a direct causal relationship, whereas "under the excuse" suggests the stated cause is not the true or complete reason. For instance, saying "the event was cancelled because of rain" is neutral, but "the event was cancelled "under the excuse of" rain" implies the rain was a convenient pretext.