отговорка

excuse, pretext

ɐ d ɡ ɐ v o r k ə

от away from; separation or removal + говор to speak, to talk + к noun-forming suffix (often indicating an action or diminutive) + а feminine singular nominative

noun · feminine singular · nominative Rare #38,323

excuse, pretext

RU: Это была всего лишь отговорка.

EN: It was just an excuse.

Глупость-не отговорка.

Stupidity is not an excuse.

Его ответ — не более чем отговорка.

His answer is nothing more than an excuse.

Я начинаю думать, что это только отговорка.

I'm starting to think that's just an excuse.

Отговорка.

An excuse.

— Не говори никому (2006)

Это была просто отговорка.

It was just an excuse.