Understanding the Phrasal Verb: Explain Away
Welcome, English learners! Phrasal verbs can be tricky, but they are essential for sounding natural in English. Today, we're diving deep into the phrasal verb explain away. Understanding how to use explain away correctly will significantly boost your conversational skills and comprehension. This versatile phrase is commonly used to describe how someone attempts to diminish or dismiss a problem or fault through explanation. In this post, you'll learn its meanings, structure, synonyms, and get to practice using it. Let's get started on mastering another important English phrasal verb!
Table of Contents
- What Does Explain Away Mean?
- Structure with Explain Away
- Related Phrases and Synonyms
- Practice Time!
- Conclusion
What Does Explain Away Mean?
The phrasal verb explain away generally means to diminish the significance of something, often a mistake, problem, or something embarrassing, by offering an excuse or a seemingly plausible but sometimes misleading reason. It's about trying to make something negative seem less important or even untrue through words. People often explain away their errors or uncomfortable truths.
Structure with Explain Away
Understanding the grammatical structure of explain away is key to using it correctly. This phrasal verb is transitive, meaning it usually takes a direct object (the thing being explained away). Let's explore its common structures and meanings.
Meaning 1: To make a fault or problem seem less significant or untrue by offering excuses.
This is perhaps the most common usage of explain away. It implies that the explanation given is often an attempt to deflect blame or minimize the severity of an issue, and it might not be entirely convincing or honest.
Structure: Subject + explain away + [fault/problem/mistake/accusation]
- Example 1: He tried to explain away his constant lateness by blaming the traffic, but no one believed him.
- Example 2: The company spokesperson attempted to explain away the sudden drop in profits as a temporary market fluctuation.
Structure: Subject + explain away + [something] + as + [excuse/reason]
- Example 1: She tried to explain away her rudeness as a result of stress.
- Example 2: The politician explained away the controversial comment as a simple misunderstanding.
Meaning 2: To remove doubts or suspicions by providing an explanation.
In this sense, explain away can sometimes have a more neutral or even positive connotation, where a genuine explanation successfully clears up a misunderstanding or alleviates concern. However, it often still carries a hint that the explanation might be simplifying a more complex issue.
- Structure: Subject + explain away + [doubts/suspicions/fears/concerns]
- Example 1: The detective managed to explain away most of the witness's initial fears with a calm reassurance.
- Example 2: Can you explain away the discrepancies in the financial report?
Meaning 3: To account for something in a way that dismisses its real importance or complexity.
This usage emphasizes the dismissive nature of the explanation. The speaker using explain away in this context often wants to make a complex issue seem simple or a significant event seem trivial, sometimes to avoid dealing with it properly.
- Structure: Subject + explain away + [complex issue/significant event/strange occurrence]
- Example 1: You can't just explain away such a complex societal problem with a single, simple cause.
- Example 2: He tried to explain away the team's failure as just bad luck, ignoring the deeper issues.
Learning to explain away things might seem like a useful skill in certain situations, but in the context of language learning, understanding how it's used helps you identify when others are making excuses or simplifying complex issues. Pay attention to the context to grasp the speaker's intent when they use explain away.
Related Phrases and Synonyms
Understanding synonyms and related phrases can greatly expand your vocabulary and comprehension. Here are some words and phrases similar in meaning to explain away, along with explanations and examples. Remember, context is key, as the best synonym depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.
| Word/Phrase | Explanation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Justify | To show or prove to be right or reasonable. | He tried to justify his actions by saying he had no other choice. |
| Rationalize | To attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or an attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate. | She rationalized her excessive spending by calling it "retail therapy." |
| Make excuses for | To offer reasons to try to lessen blame or criticism for something. | He's always making excuses for his son's bad behavior. |
| Dismiss | To decide that something or someone is not important and not worth considering. | She dismissed his concerns as unimportant. |
| Gloss over | To treat or describe (something, such as a serious problem or error) in a deliberately cursory or superficial way. | The report tended to gloss over the real financial difficulties. |
These alternatives can help you express similar ideas with different shades of meaning. For instance, justify often implies an attempt to prove something is right, while rationalize suggests finding logical-sounding reasons for behavior that might be inherently illogical or questionable. Making excuses for is very direct about avoiding blame. Dismiss and gloss over highlight the act of ignoring or downplaying significance. Using these effectively will make your English more precise.
Practice Time!
Let's test your understanding of "explain away" and its nuances with a few questions. Choose the best option for each.
Question 1: Which sentence best uses "explain away" to mean diminishing a fault?
a) The scientist tried to explain away the complex theory in simple terms.
b) He attempted to explain away his mistake by blaming his assistant.
c) She could easily explain away any doubts about the project's success.
d) The manual will explain away how the machine works.
Correct answer: b
Question 2: "The manager tried to ________ the team's poor performance as a result of unexpected market changes." Which phrasal verb fits best?
a) explain over
b) explain out
c) explain away
d) explain from
Correct answer: c
Question 3: When someone tries to "explain away" a problem, they are often trying to:
a) Analyze it thoroughly.
b) Make it seem less important or untrue.
c) Find a genuine solution.
d) Highlight its severity.
Correct answer: b
Question 4: "You can't simply ______ decades of research with a single, unsupported claim."
a) explain away
b) explain for
c) explain into
d) explain under
Correct answer: a
How did you do? Repetition and practice are crucial when learning phrasal verbs. Try creating your own sentences using explain away based on situations you've experienced or observed!
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly using the phrasal verb we've discussed today is a valuable step in your journey to English fluency. Recognizing its various meanings—whether it's to make excuses, alleviate doubts, or dismiss significance—allows for more nuanced comprehension and expression. Remember, the key to mastering phrasal verbs is consistent practice and paying attention to context. Keep practicing, and you'll find yourself using these expressions naturally and effectively in your conversations!