n.借口，托词

原形：pretext复数：pretexts

Eric used his sore finger as a pretext for not going to school.
埃里克借口手指疼而不去上学。
Tom left the party early on the pretext of having work to do.
汤姆借口有事要处理，早早离开了聚会。
The pretext for the war was the alleged threat to national security.
战争的借口是所谓的国家安全威胁。
She used her headache as a pretext to avoid attending the party.
她以头疼为借口，不去参加聚会。
He called me to discuss work, but it was just a pretext to talk about his personal life.
他打电话说要讨论工作，但那只是谈论他个人生活的借口。
The politician's visit to the灾区 was criticized as mere pretext for gaining publicity.
这位政治家对灾区的访问被批评为只是为了博取公众关注的借口。
The boss asked me to stay late, using the pretext of an urgent project.
老板以一个紧急项目为借口让我加班。
The student pretended to be sick, using it as a pretext to skip the exam.
学生假装生病，以此为借口逃避考试。
The neighbor invited us over for dinner, using the pretext of celebrating a birthday.
邻居邀请我们去吃饭，借口是庆祝生日。
The company cited economic downturn as a pretext for laying off employees.
公司以经济衰退为借口裁员。
The teacher postponed the class, giving the pretext of unexpected technical difficulties.
老师推迟了课程，借口是出现了意外的技术问题。
He used the bad weather as a pretext for not going out jogging.
他以天气不好为借口，没去跑步。