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.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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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… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • 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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