explain away

US /ɪkˈspleɪn əˈweɪ/
UK /ɪkˈspleɪn əˈweɪ/
"explain away" picture
1.

解释, 开脱

to account for something in a way that makes it seem less serious or bad

:
He tried to explain away his absence by saying he was sick.
他试图通过声称生病来解释自己的缺席。
Her strange behavior couldn't be explained away easily.
她奇怪的行为不容易解释清楚