excuse oneself

excuse oneself
{v. phr.} 1. To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault. * /John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn't like him./ 2. To ask to be excused after doing something impolite. * /John excused himself for his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong./ 3. To ask permission to leave a group or place. * /The committee meeting lasted so long that Mr. Wilkins excused himself to keep an appointment./ * /John had to go to the dentist's, so he excused himself and left the classroom./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • excuse oneself — 1. To ask permission and then leave 2. To explain and seek pardon (for a misdeed) • • • Main Entry: ↑excuse …   Useful english dictionary

  • excuse oneself — index decline (reject) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • excuse oneself from — seek to be released from an obligation or situation (excuse oneself from the table, excuse oneself from military duty, etc.) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • excuse oneself — say politely that one is leaving. → excuse …   English new terms dictionary

  • excuse oneself — {v. phr.} 1. To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault. * /John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn t like him./ 2. To ask to be excused after doing something impolite. * /John… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • excuse\ oneself — v. phr. 1. To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault. John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn t like him. 2. To ask to be excused after doing something impolite. John excused… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • excuse oneself — apologize; justify one s actions …   English contemporary dictionary

  • excuse — [ek skyo͞oz′, ikskyo͞oz′; ] for n. [, ekskyo͞os′] vt. excused, excusing [ME excusen < OFr escuser & L excusare, to free from a charge < L ex , from + causa, a charge: see CAUSE] 1. to try to free (a person) of blame; seek to exonerate 2. to …   English World dictionary

  • excuse — ► VERB 1) seek or serve to justify (a fault or offence). 2) release from a duty or requirement. 3) forgive (a fault or a person committing one). 4) (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering. 5) (excuse oneself) say… …   English terms dictionary

  • excuse — excusable, adj. excusableness, n. excusably, adv. excusal, n. excuseless, adj. excuser, n. excusingly, adv. excusive, adj. excusively, adv. v …   Universalium

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