explain something away
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explain something away — minimize the significance of something embarrassing by giving an excuse or justification. → explain … English new terms dictionary
explain away — transitive verb transitive verb 1. : to get rid of by or as if by explanation was trying to speak some words that … would explain away all the mistakes and misunderstandings of life Ellen Glasgow 2. : to minimize the significance of by or as if… … Useful english dictionary
explain — verb 1》 make (something) clear by providing more detail. 2》 give a reason or justification for. ↘(explain oneself) excuse or justify one s behaviour. ↘(explain something away) minimize the significance of something embarrassing by giving… … English new terms dictionary
explain away something — explain away (something) to invent reasons why something is unimportant. You will find it hard to explain away all these mistakes. Rather than face the truth, we try to explain it away … New idioms dictionary
explain away — (something) to invent reasons why something is unimportant. You will find it hard to explain away all these mistakes. Rather than face the truth, we try to explain it away … New idioms dictionary
explain — ex|plain W1S1 [ıkˈspleın] v [I and T] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: explanare to make level, unfold , from planus level, flat ] 1.) to tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand ▪ Our lawyer carefully explained … Dictionary of contemporary English
explain — /Ik spleIn/ verb (I, T) 1 to make something clear or easy to understand: Our lawyer carefully explained the procedure. | explain (to sb) why/how/where etc: The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system. | explain that: I explained… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
explain — ex|plain [ ık spleın ] verb *** 1. ) transitive to tell someone something in a way that helps them understand it better: My full name is Juliet Avery, Juliet explained patiently. explain something to someone: The doctor explained the risks to me… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
explain */*/*/ — UK [ɪkˈspleɪn] / US verb Word forms explain : present tense I/you/we/they explain he/she/it explains present participle explaining past tense explained past participle explained 1) a) [transitive] to tell someone something in a way that helps… … English dictionary
explain — [[t]ɪksple͟ɪn[/t]] ♦♦ explains, explaining, explained 1) VERB If you explain something, you give details about it or describe it so that it can be understood. [V n] Not every judge, however, has the ability to explain the law in simple terms...… … English dictionary
