Collocations for IELTS Word Excuse
The relationship between two or more-word formations is called “collocation” (‘Co’ - together and ‘location’ – place). It is a less common yet essential part of grammar that helps in framing better sentences in our professional and academic life. In the IELTS, collocation plays an important role in making our speaking and writing test answers more effective and authentic. Excuses can be used in different ways, forms and context. It is most commonly used as a verb; it can also be used as a noun. Its meaning also differs from defense to reason to polite requests.
Normally we use ‘excuse’ to justify or defend a mistake. But in jurisprudence, excuse means to defend a criminal. Here, justification and defense are different. In our day-to-day life an excuse can be used as a ‘noun’ to indicate a reason to do something. It can also be used to define a cover-up story or pretext. As a verb, an excuse can be used to overlook something. It is also used to release someone from a particular task.
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‘Excuse’ is most commonly used as an expression, idiom or phrase. The most common phrase we use in our conversations is ‘excuse me’.
The word excuse can be used as both positive and negative.
In this article, we will learn about different collocations for the word ‘excuse’. Collocations for ‘excuse’ can be used in the form of noun and verb, it can be converted to preposition and adjectives using certain word formations. Collocations can also be used in the form of phrases.
- MEANINGS and Examples
(Verb)
forgive: Please excuse his mistake
defend: You shouldn’t excuse him from the punishment
overlook: Excuse this mess
release: You are excused from this task
a polite way of taking leave: May I be excused
(noun)
reason: I don’t need any more excuses
pretext: Stomach ache was just an excuse to not attend the party
- SYNONYMS and USAGES.
(noun)
- Meaning: defense, reason, basis, explanation, cause
Sentence: I don’t need any more excuses in this office for your incomplete works.
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Also, check:
- Meaning: pretext, cover up, fabrication, alibi
Sentence: Rahul’s fever is just an excuse for taking a leave.
(verb)
- Meaning: defend, justify
Sentence: The court will not excuse her for what she has done.
- Meaning: forgive, pardon, make allowance for
Sentence: Please excuse my negligence for the last time, I will never repeat it again.
- Meaning: overlook
Sentence: Oh! I am sorry, but please excuse this mess.
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- Meaning: mitigate
Sentence: Ann’s personality excuses her bad temper.
- Meaning: release, let off, exempt, spare, liberate
Sentence: Could you please excuse me from this task as I already have a lot of pending work?
- Meaning: A polite way of asking for leave
Sentence: Excuse me, may I leave the meeting.
- COLLOCATIONS
(adjectives)
- Good
Meaning: perfect, good, great, reasonable, valid, legitimate
Sentence: Being sick is a valid excuse to skip office.
- Suitable
Meaning: convenient, easy, usual, every, slightest
Sentence: Recess is a usual excuse for the government’s declining budget.
- Bad
Meaning: feeble, flimsy, pathetic, poor, weak
Sentence: He made such a pathetic excuse to leave the meeting abruptly.
(verb)
have
Sentence: I have no excuses for my mistake.
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find, invent
Sentence: I don’t know where he invents such lame excuses from.
make, offer, provide, give
Sentence: She can’t provide me with any more excuses.
used ___ as
Sentence: He used work from home as an excuse to stay away from the neighbors.
run out
Sentence: I’m running out of excuses for not doing my homework.
accept, believe, reject
Sentence: I have no options but to reject your excuses.
(preposition)
about, for
Sentence: Shweta’s excuse about the pending work is quite valid.
Sentence: Birthdays are just an excuse for a party.
- FREQUENTLY USED COLLOCATIONS.
- Convenient Excuse:
Sentence: Going to a distant relative’s wedding is not a convenient excuse for not writing the exam.
- Lame Excuse:
Sentence: I just can’t tolerate Anya’s lame excuses.
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- Legitimate Excuse:
Sentence: According to law, not knowing a foreign law is a legitimate excuse for small mistakes in a foreign land.
- Perfect Excuse:
Sentence: I just don’t understand how she comes up with such perfect excuses before the board.
- Reasonable Excuse:
Sentence: Students will not be granted leave without a reasonable excuse.
- PHRASAL VERBS INSTEAD OF EXCUSE
- pass over
Sentence: I chose to excuse her jealous comments.
Sentence: I chose to pass over her jealous comments.
- let off
Sentence: Anaya was excused for a short time.
Sentence: Anaya was let off for a short time.
- dispensed from
Sentence: I want to be excused from the annual conference.
Sentence: I want to be dispensed from the annual conference.
- make allowances for
Sentence: I will excuse him for his inability to perform well today.
Sentence: I will make allowances for his inability to perform well today.
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- PHRASES
- excuse the expression
Meaning: pardon my words/ I was rude to you
- excuse me
Meaning:
- to seek someone’s attention
- a polite a polite apology
- to pass through someone’s way
- to interrupt a speaker
- excuse my ignorance
Meaning: Way of saying you don’t know something (especially when someone expect you to know)
Sentence: Oh, Excuse my ignorance, I didn't know that you will take it negatively.
- excuse yourself
Meaning: to say politely that one is leaving
Sentence: Rishab excused himself and went to his cabin.
- will make one’s excuse
Meaning: to say politely that one is leaving or cannot be present
Sentence: He was about to make his excuses when Mr Mukherjee asked him an odd question.
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