furnish a handle
verb
Roget 617:
pretend,
plead,
allege;
shelter oneself under the plea of;
excuse
etc.
(vindicate)
937;
lend a color to;
furnish a handle
etc.
n.;
make a pretext of,
make a handle of;
use as a plea
etc.
n.;
take one's stand upon,
make capital out of,
pretend
etc.
(lie)
544.
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noun
Roget 937:
vindication,
justification,
warrant;
exoneration,
exculpation;
acquittal
etc.
970;
whitewashing.
extenuation;
palliation,
palliative;
softening,
mitigation.
reply,
defense;
recrimination
etc.
938.
apology,
gloss,
varnish;
plea
etc.
617;
salvo;
excuse,
extenuating circumstances;
allowance,
allowance to be made;
locus paenitentiae [Lat.].
apologist,
vindicator,
justifier;
defendant
etc.
938.
justifiable charge,
true bill.
v..
justify,
warrant;
be an excuse for
etc.
n.;
lend a color,
furnish a handle;
vindicate;
exculpate,
disculpate†;
acquit
etc.
970;
clear,
set right,
exonerate,
whitewash;
clear the skirts of.
extenuate,
palliate,
excuse,
soften,
apologize,
varnish,
slur,
gloze;
put a gloss,
put a good face upon;
mince;
gloss over,
bolster up,
help a lame dog over a stile.
advocate,
defend,
plead one's cause;
stand up for,
stick up for,
speak up for;
contend for,
speak for;
bear out,
keep in countenance,
support;
plead
&c.,
617;
say in defense;
plead ignorance;
confess and avoid,
propugn†,
put in a good word for.
take the will for the deed,
make allowance for,
give credit for,
do justice to;
give one his due,
give the Devil his due.
make good;
prove the truth of,
prove one's case;
be justified by the event.
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