JLPT N1 grammar

〜にかこつけてmeaning and usage

Meaning

Under the pretense of A; With A as an excuse

How to form it

  • nounにかこつけて

How it is used

'Using A as an excuse to do B', what one really wants to do; A often has little to do with B, and the tone is critical. Unlike 「〜がてら」 and 「〜かたがた」, which simply combine two purposes.

Examples

  1. 彼は仕事にかこつけて毎晩飲み歩いています。

    He uses work as an excuse to go bar-hopping every night.

  2. 弟は風邪にかこつけて、部活の練習を休んだ。

    My brother used his cold as an excuse to skip club practice.

  3. 勉強会にかこつけて、友達の家でゲームばかりしていた。

    I used the study session as an excuse and did nothing but play games at a friend's place.