German word

Ausrede

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sˌʁeːdə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounexcuse

Example

Er hat immer eine Ausrede, wenn er zu spät kommt.

He always has an excuse when he is late.

Illustration for Ausrede (excuse)

More examples

Eine fadenscheinige Ausrede fällt in professionellen Situationen schnell auf.

A flimsy excuse is quickly noticed in professional situations.

Core concept

A spoken reason held out to get someone out of a duty or blame, often sounding unconvincing.

Common phrases

  • mit einer Ausrede herausreden

    talk one's way out of it with an excuse

  • eine fadenscheinige Ausrede

    a flimsy excuse

Similar words

Ausflucht: A small lie or evasive reason used to escape responsibility.
Vorwand: A pretext used to conceal the real purpose or reason.
Entschuldigung: Words used to admit a fault and express regret.
Rechtfertigung: An explanation showing that an action or decision was justified.

Definition in German

Eine oft unglaubwürdige oder vorgeschobene Begründung, die eine Pflicht oder ein Fehlverhalten zu rechtfertigen versucht.

Word origin

Ausrede combines aus, meaning 'out', with Rede, meaning 'speech' or 'statement', and names speech used to talk out of a difficulty.

Usage tips

  • Die Ausrede is feminine, and its plural is die Ausreden; it usually suggests a dishonest or unconvincing excuse rather than a neutral explanation.

Other meanings

  • pretextnoun
  • evasionnoun

Opposites

  • Ehrlichkeithonestynoun

Related words

  • ausredenmake excusesverb

Word lists with this word