отгово́рка

noun, feminine, inanimate

Very rarely used word (top 30,000)

excuse
Carries the implication of being unconvincing.

Usage info

In contrast to the neutral оправдание which may or may not be a sincere, plausible, or proven justification for an action or behavior, отговорка has a connotation of being flimsy, transparent, unbelievable.

Examples

Тот, кто и́щет отгово́рки, не име́ет ша́нсов на успе́х.He who looks for excuses doesn't have any chances for success.

Э́то всего лишь отгово́рки.These are really just excuses.

Э́то всего лишь отгово́рка.That's just an excuse.

Глу́пость - не отгово́рка.Stupidity is no excuse.

Э́то сла́бая отгово́рка, для того́ чтобы броса́ть рабо́ту.That's a lame excuse for giving up the work.

Точнее я бы назва́л э́то не причи́ной, а отгово́ркой.To be more precise, I'd call it not a reason but an excuse.

Э́то неуда́чная отгово́рка.That's a lame excuse.

Он приду́мал отгово́рку, почему опозда́л.He invented an excuse for being late.

Declension

	singular	plural
nom.nominative	отгово́рка	отгово́рки
gen.genitive	отгово́рки	отгово́рок
dat.dative	отгово́рке	отгово́ркам
acc.accusative	отгово́рку	отгово́рки
inst.instrumental	отгово́ркой отгово́ркою	отгово́рками
prep.prepositional	отгово́рке	отгово́рках