explain sth away
— phrasal verb with explain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ verb [I or T]Definition
› to avoid blame for something that has happened by making it seem not important or not your fault: I don't know how you're going to explain away that dent you made in dad's car.Defining and explainingReasons and explanations
(Definition of explain sth away from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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- Admitting & confessing
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- Exaggerating & playing down
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- Questioning people & asking questions in general
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Browse the Dictionary
-
expertise noun
-
expiate verb
-
expire verb (DIE)
-
expire verb (END)
-
expiry noun
- explain sth away phrasal verb
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explain verb
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explaining noun
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explanation noun
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explanatory adjective
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expletive noun
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- belabour verb (EXPLAIN)
- bill sb as sth phrasal verb
- characterize verb
- clarification noun
- come down to sth phrasal verb
- define verb (EXPLAIN)
- every picture tells a story idiom
- explain verb
- explanatory adjective
- explicate verb
- expound verb
- fill sb in phrasal verb
- get sth across phrasal verb
- outline noun (DESCRIPTION)
- outline verb (DESCRIBE)
- paint a black picture of sth/sb idiom
- trace verb (FIND)
- unpack verb (EXPLAIN)
- viz. adverb
- what is he, are they, etc. like? idiom
Topic:
Defining & explaining
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