n (1) 借口，理由，托辞 ((true or not true)reason used to explain one's actions，behavior; explanation) [C] [N(for)]： a written～书面申诉;make/invent/find an～for doing sth 为做某事而编造/捏造/寻找借口; That is (would be) a good/poor～. 那是(会成为)一个好的/糟糕的借口。have(no)～(s) to offer/for sth (for doing sth)提(不)出(做)某事的理由; Ignorance of the law is no～. 不懂法并不能成为借口。Being too busy is no～for not studying. 太忙并不能成为不学习的借口。I've heard a thousand～s for your being late. 关于你迟到的借口我听得太多了。Have you any good～s to give? 你能不能提出什么好的理由来? His～for being late was that there was a traffic jam. 他为自己迟到找的借口是发生了交通堵塞。without～毫无理由; 〖同〗 justification，defense，argument; 〖反〗accusation，charge;

(2) 原谅，饶恕 (sth that serves to excuse) [C] [N(for)]：an～for some fault 原谅某种缺点; There is no～for such behavior. 这种行为不能饶恕。

make one's excuses to sb 向某人提出借口; 代某人向 …… 表示歉意：The guest made his～and left the party. 客人找了个借口离开了聚会。Please make my～to Mr Jones and tell him I'll meet him tomorrow. 请代我向琼斯先生致歉并告诉他我将在明天与他见面。

in excuse of作为 …… 的辩解：You should not plead ignorance in～of your mistakes. 你不应该用无知来为自己的错误辩解。

vt (1) 原谅，宽恕 (forgive or pardon) [T+n，T+n+prep (for)，T+ing]：I will～you this time. 这一次我将原谅你。Please～my carelessness/my late arrival/my interrupting you. 请原谅我的粗心/我来晚了/我的打扰。The teacher～d the student for being/for arriving late. 那个学生迟到了/来晚了，但老师原谅了他。Please/I beg you to～me for what I did yesterday. 请你/我求你原谅我昨天所做的事情。〖同〗 forgive，pardon; 〖反〗 blame，criticize，punish，charge，accuse，condemn;

(2) 使 …… 可以原谅; 为 …… 辩解(be a reason or explanation for; clear of blame) [T+n，T+n+prep(for)]： Nothing can～such rudeness/such irresponsible behavior. 说什么也不能原谅这种无礼/这种不负责任的行为。Sickness～d his absence from the meeting. 生病使他没能参加会议。His own unhappy childhood does not～the way he treats his wife and children. 他本人不幸的童年并不能成为他如此对待其妻子儿女的理由。He～d his absence by saying that he was ill. 他推说自己病了来为缺席辩解。Don't～his rudeness by saying he was in a hurry. 不要推说他有急事来为他的无礼辩解。〖同〗 justify，explain，defend，pardon; 〖反〗 blame，criticize，punish，charge，accuse，condemn;

(3) 免除 (free or release from a duty，activity，obligation，etc) [T+n，T+n+prep(from)，D+n+n] (尤pass)：be～d (from) school/writing an essay 允许不去上学/不写文章;May I be～d from my homework today? 我今天能不能不写作业?〖同〗release，free，spare;〖反〗compel，oblige;

excuse me 对不起：E～me，may I take this chair? 对不起，我能坐这把椅子吗?

excuse oneself 请求离开：He～d himself and left the room/～d himself from coming to the party. 他道了声歉就离开了房间/请求不去参加那个聚会。

→ex′cusatory adj 辩解的;申诉的;ex′cusable adj 可以原谅的;ex′cusably adv 可原谅地;

【用法】当打扰别人或想引起注意时，一般要说“Excuse me”，如：Excuse me，does this bus go the railway station? (劳驾问一下，这是开往火车站的公交车吗?) 而当需要为某事道歉时，则一般要说 “Sorry” 或 “Pardon me”，如：Sorry，did I bump you? (对不起，我撞着您了吧?) 在美国英语中，“Excuse me” 及 “Pardon me” 都可表示道歉。另外，当要求别人重复时可以说 “Pardon?” 英国英语中还可以说 “Sorry?”表达同样的意思; 美国英语则用 “Pardon me?” 。

【辨异】 1) excuse与apology的区别见APOLOGY。 2)excuse与 forgive和pardon都表示原谅或宽恕。excuse指原谅较轻微或非故意的过失，如：excuse one's bad handwriting (原谅某人糟糕的书写);forgive 指原谅更严重的过错，尤指从主观上不予计较，如：We forgave him his sins. (我们宽恕了他的罪行。) pardon则表示对某人应受的惩罚进行赦免，如：The governor pardoned the criminal. (总督赦免了那个罪犯。)