pretext

a deliberately deceptive reason given to hide one's true intentions

a weak or barely believable reason given to justify an action

seizing any opportunity, no matter how small, to do something (synonymous with 'at')

seizing any opportunity, no matter how small, to do something

a reason used to justify a particular action or event

used to introduce the stated, but not true, reason for an action

similar to 'on the pretext', used to introduce a false reason

to look for and identify a reason to do something

to make up a false reason to do something

to present someone with a reason for doing something

to supply someone with a reason for doing something