Avatar of Vocabulary Set Justifications & Excuses

Justifications & Excuses Vocabulary Set in Behavior, Attitude, & Approach: Full and Detailed List

The 'Justifications & Excuses' vocabulary set in 'Behavior, Attitude, & Approach' is carefully selected from standard international textbook sources, helping you master vocabulary in a short time. Comprehensive compilation of definitions, illustrative examples, and standard pronunciation...

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all is fair in love and war

/ɔːl ɪz fer ɪn lʌv ænd wɔːr/

Example:

He cheated to win her heart, but all is fair in love and war.

a bird never flew on one wing

/ə bɜːrd ˈnɛvər fluː ɒn wʌn wɪŋ/

Example:

Have another whiskey; a bird never flew on one wing!

a bad workman blames his tools

/ə bæd ˈwɜːrkmən bleɪmz hɪz tuːlz/

Example:

He said the oven was broken when the cake burnt, but a bad workman blames his tools.

the end justify the means

/ði ɛnd ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ ðə miːnz/

Example:

He lied to his boss to get the promotion, believing that the end justifies the means.

ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it

/ˈɪɡ.nər.əns əv ðə lɔː ɪz noʊ ɪkˈskjuːs fɔːr ˈbreɪ.kɪŋ ɪt/

Example:

He tried to claim he didn't know the speed limit had changed, but ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.

finders keepers, losers weepers

/ˈfaɪndərz ˈkipərz, ˈluzərz ˈwipərz/

Example:

I found this ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk, and since no one is around, finders keepers, losers weepers!

desperate times call for desperate measures

/ˈdes.pər.ət taɪmz kɔːl fɔːr ˈdes.pər.ət ˈmeʒ.ərz/

Example:

The company had to lay off half its staff; desperate times call for desperate measures.

excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure

/ɪkˈskjusɪz ɑr ðə neɪlz juzd tu bɪld ə haʊs ʌv ˈfeɪljər/

Example:

Stop blaming the economy; remember that excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.

an excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded

/æn ɪkˈskjuːs ɪz wɜːrs ænd mɔːr ˈter.ə.bəl ðæn ə laɪ, fɔːr æn ɪkˈskjuːs ɪz ə laɪ ˈɡɑːr.dɪd/

Example:

He tried to justify his lateness with a complex story, but as they say, an excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded.

a bad excuse is better than none

/ə bæd ɪkˈskjuːs ɪz ˈbetər ðæn nʌn/

Example:

I know you're late, but just tell them you missed the bus; a bad excuse is better than none.

he who excuses himself, accuses himself

/hi hu ɪkˈskjuːzɪz hɪmˈsɛlf, əˈkjuːzɪz hɪmˈsɛlf/

Example:

I didn't even ask why he was late, but he started explaining everything; he who excuses himself, accuses himself.
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