💋 "It wasn't my fault, I swear!"
So, you’ve been caught out. You missed a date, you showed up three hours late to the pub, or you forgot to text someone back. Now you have to blag your way out of it. To make a truly convincing excuse, you need to connect your terrible actions with completely unavoidable circumstances. This requires Conjunctions of Reason (the "why") and Conjunctions of Result (the "so what"). Let's learn how to spin a far-fetched lie into a believable story.
- Blag (verb): British slang for managing to get out of trouble (or get something you want) by talking persuasively and often dishonestly.
- Far-fetched (adjective): Very unlikely to be true, and difficult to believe.
1. The Cheeky Dictionary: 8 Words for Dodging the Blame
Practice: drag a word, or select it and choose a gap.
1. I told him I had a headache, which was a because I just wanted to stay home and watch TV.
2. Don't be a ! You promised you would come to the pub with us tonight.
3. If you on her one more time, she is going to block your number.
4. You really me last night when you didn't show up to the party.
5. "My dog ate my phone" is not a excuse. Try harder.
6. Stop trying to the blame onto me! You were the one who broke the glass.
7. I tried to tell her the train was late, but she didn't at all.
8. When his girlfriend caught them, he tried to his best mate to save his own relationship.
Choose a word, then choose a gap.
2. Grammar Mechanics: Cause and Effect
To tell a convincing story, you need to link the reason (the cause) to the result (the effect). Pay close attention to exactly what follows the conjunction!
| Conjunctions of REASON (The Cause) | The Grammar Rule | Cheeky Example |
|---|---|---|
| Because / Since / As | Followed by a full clause (Subject + Verb). | "I was late because my alarm didn't go off." |
| Due to / Because of | Followed by a noun or noun phrase ONLY (No verb!). | "I was late due to the terrible traffic." |
| Conjunctions of RESULT (The Effect) | The Grammar Rule | Cheeky Example |
| So | Used mid-sentence to show the direct result. | "I lost my wallet, so I couldn't buy a drink." |
| Therefore / Consequently / As a result | Used at the start of a new sentence to sound very formal (or to make a fake excuse sound serious). | "My dog was sick. Therefore, I had to cancel our date." |
3. Reading: The Master of Excuses
Notice how Pete strings together reasons and results to blag his way out of trouble!
4. Interactive Practice: Crafting the Perfect Lie
Exercise A: Reason or Result?
1. I couldn't text you back the terrible Wi-Fi in the pub.
2. I missed the last train home, I had to sleep on my mate's sofa.
3. you forgot my birthday, you are buying dinner tonight.
Exercise B: Fix the Grammar
Choose between 'because' (needs a verb) and 'due to' (needs a noun).
1. We broke up his massive ego.
2. I am exhausted I stayed out until 4 AM.
5. Speaking Practice: Spilling the Tea ☕
- What is the most far-fetched excuse someone has ever given you when they decided to flake on a date?
- Have you ever told a white lie to get out of an awkward social event? What did you say?
- Do you have a friend who constantly deflects the blame when they do something wrong?
- If a mate tries to throw you under the bus to save their own relationship, what do you do?
- Make up an excuse right now: Your teacher asks why you didn't do your homework. Start your sentence with: "Due to..."