explain away
Britishverb
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The union tries to explain away the rejection by noting the CTU has been busy and that “even with 72 wins the ’96 Bulls still lost 10 games.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Collagen is the primary structural protein found in bone tissue and one of the hardest biomolecules to explain away as contamination when identified in this context.
From Science Daily • May 14, 2026
Jean doesn’t try to explain away the contradiction.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
One of them attempted to explain away her condition by claiming it was difficult to speak when reporting from cold climates.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
Lies were told and then exposed, begetting more lies to explain away the initial deceptions.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
