SuGoiSuす語彙すGrammar › N1 · 14 Set expressions and idioms
〜にかこつけて: using as an excuse
N1 · 14 Set expressions and idioms
Says someone uses one thing as a pretext to do something else.
Noun + にかこつけて + action: 仕事にかこつけて, 出張にかこつけて. The real reason is something else. Often critical. Spoken and written. Compare 〜を口実に, which is similar and more direct.
Examples
彼は、出張にかこつけて、友人に会いに行った。
He used a business trip as an excuse to go see his friend.
病気にかこつけて、会議を欠席した。
Using illness as a pretext, he skipped the meeting.