Tra từ pretext - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

pre·text [pretext pretexts] BrE [ˈpriːtekst] NAmE [ˈpriːtekst] noun ~ (for sth/for doing sth) | ~ (to do sth)
a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason; an excuse
•The incident was used as a pretext for intervention in the area.
•He left the party early on the pretext of having work to do.
•Be careful not to give him a pretext to report you.
•People were being arrested on the flimsiest of pretexts.

Word Origin:
early 16th cent.: from Latin praetextus ‘outward display’, from the verb praetexere ‘to disguise’, from prae ‘before’

texere ‘weave’.

Synonyms:
reason
explanation • grounds • basis • excuse • motive • justification • pretext
These are all words for a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done.
reason • a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth: ▪ He said no but he didn't give a reason.
explanation • a statement, fact or situation that tells you why sth has happened; a reason given for sth: ▪ The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. ◇ ▪ She left the room abruptly without explanation.
grounds • (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sth: ▪ You have no grounds for complaint.
basis • (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action: ▪ On what basis will this decision be made?
excuse • a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons: ▪ Late again! What's your excuse this time? ◇ ▪ It gave me an excuse to take the car.
motive • a reason that explains sb's behaviour: ▪ There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
justification • (rather formal) a good reason why sth exists or is done: ▪ I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.
grounds or justification?
Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do sth. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every, without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law: moral/economic grounds.
pretext • (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason: ▪ He left the party early on the pretext of having to work.
(a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for sth
the reason/motive behind sth
on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
(a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification

Example Bank:
•He disappeared into his study on the pretext that he had work to do there.
•He keeps popping into my office on the slightest pretext.
•He used his research as a pretext for going to Hungary.
•Several schools banned the game on flimsy pretexts.
•This was a false pretext to attack another country.
•Under the pretext of checking her identity, the man had copied down her credit card details.