make excuses
Justify poor behavior
To make excuses is to offer explanations or justifications for failure, poor behavior, or not doing something—often implying the reasons are weak or insincere.
Stop making excuses and just do it.
The phrase usually carries a negative connotation: someone making excuses is deflecting responsibility rather than owning up to their shortcomings.
He's always making excuses for being late.
Avoid by quick movement
cop-out · weasel out · duck · evade · brush off · shrug off · pass the buck · stonewall
Defense of location
- explanationStatement making something clear
- defenseProtection against harm
- justificationReason proving rightness
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
rationale · vindication · plea · argument · pretext · cover story · spin · whitewash
Unfairly blamed person
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- pass the buckTransfer responsibility elsewhere
- deflectTurn from course
- gaslightDistort someone's reality
project · disown · disclaim · disavow · throw under the bus · cover-up · point fingers · deny
Convincing yourself of falsehoods
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- mental gymnasticsConvoluted reasoning to justify beliefs
- cognitive dissonanceDiscomfort from contradictory beliefs
sophistry · casuistry · spin · reframe · minimize · downplay · distort · cherry-pick
dodge
Avoid by quick movement
shirk · cop-out · weasel out · duck · evade · brush off · shrug off · pass the buck · stonewall · stall
alibi
Defense of location
- explanationStatement making something clear
- defenseProtection against harm
- justificationReason proving rightness
reasoning · rationale · vindication · plea · argument · pretext · cover story · spin · whitewash · extenuation
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
- pass the buckTransfer responsibility elsewhere
- deflectTurn from course
gaslight · project · disown · disclaim · disavow · throw under the bus · cover-up · point fingers · deny · not my fault
self-deception
Convincing yourself of falsehoods
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- mental gymnasticsConvoluted reasoning to justify beliefs
cognitive dissonance · sophistry · casuistry · spin · reframe · minimize · downplay · distort · cherry-pick · selective memory
procrastinate
Delay action unnecessarily
drag feet · hesitate · back out · bail · flake · no-show · rain check · reschedule · cancel · bow out
make excusestake responsibility
Accept fault for outcomes
own up · be accountable · take the blame · face the music · fess up
make excusestell the truth
Communicate facts honestly
be honest · come clean · speak plainly · call a spade a spade · lay it on the line
make excusestake action
Begin doing something
step up · get it done · follow through · rise to the occasion · find a way
make, excuse, excusable, inexcusable, excusing, unexcused, unexcusable