to tell someone about something in a way that makes them think it is unimportant, so that they do not ask questions about it
And when the courageous stands you do take are explained away as the result of parental pressure, there's scant incentive to remain upright.
He has lied to try and explain away his barbaric crime.
He's been explaining away antisemitism for far too long.
She made up stories to explain away the missing money.
explains away
explaining away
explained away
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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