Cool MateExcuse vs The only alibi
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
The only alibi
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Excuse
| Excuse | The only alibi | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ði ˈəʊnli ˈæl.aɪ.baɪ//🇺🇸 //ði ˈoʊnli ˈæl.aɪ.baɪ// |
| Meaning | A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. | the one reason that explains someone’s actions at a certain time |
| Example | She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. | His only alibi was that he was at home watching TV. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, lousy, miserable, pathetic, excuse for | provide an alibi, establish an alibi, present an alibi |
| Antonyms | blame, accusation | the only accusation, the only evidence against, the sole suspicion, the primary blame |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excuse' instead of 'excuse me' for polite interruptions., Confusing 'excuse' with 'apology', thinking they mean the same., Using 'excuse' without an object; it typically is followed by what you are excusing. | Confused with 'the only alibi' and 'the best alibi', Using it in contexts that are not related to crime or excuses, Misplacing emphasis on 'only' leading to misunderstanding |
| Usage notes | Use 'excuse' when you need to explain why you did something wrong or when you want permission to not do something. It's neutral but can sound insincere in some contexts. | Used in contexts involving crime or suspicion. It fits best in storytelling or formal discussions of evidence. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excuse vs The only alibi
What's the difference between Excuse and The only alibi?
Excuse: A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. The only alibi: the one reason that explains someone’s actions at a certain time
Which is more common: Excuse and The only alibi?
Excuse is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excuse: She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. The only alibi: His only alibi was that he was at home watching TV.
Can I use Excuse and The only alibi interchangeably?
Not always. Excuse and The only alibi are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.