cover for
Make excuses for
Cover for means to substitute for someone temporarily or to conceal their absence or wrongdoing.
A coworker covers for you when you're out sick: Can you cover for me while I'm on vacation?
The phrase also implies protection through deception: She covered for him when the boss asked where he'd been.
The two senses blur—substituting often involves some concealment.
- stand inTemporary substitute person
- step inInvolve oneself to help
- alibiDefense of location
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- make excusesGive self-serving explanations
substitute · take over · shield · protect · defend · run interference · conceal · hide · mask · pretend · vouch · have someone's back · backup · replacement · decoy · front · smokescreen · impersonate
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- helpingaid, assist, give a hand, help, helping hand
- speaking for othersadvocate, represent, spokesperson, mouthpiece, voice
- teamworkteamwork, co-op mode, collaborate, team games, assists
cover forbetray
Violate a trust
abandon · turn on · leave in the lurch · double-cross · stab in the back
cover, for, covers, covered, covering, coverage, covert, discover, discovered