〜にかこつけて
Under the pretext of 〜にかこつけて
Meaning
"Using ~ as an excuse", "under the pretext of ~".
Formation
[noun] + にかこつけて
Notes
The stated reason is a cover for what the speaker really wants to do, so the tone is faintly self-mocking or critical. Contrast 〜を理由に, which is neutral.
Examples
出張（しゅっちょう）にかこつけて、観光（かんこう）を楽（たの）しみました。
Using the business trip as an excuse, I enjoyed some sightseeing.
Breakdown
誕生日（たんじょうび）にかこつけて、高（たか）い時計（とけい）を買（か）いました。
Using my birthday as an excuse, I bought an expensive watch.
Breakdown
仕事（しごと）にかこつけて、彼（かれ）は電話（でんわ）を切（き）りました。
On the pretext of work, he hung up the phone.
Breakdown
病気（びょうき）にかこつけて、集（あつ）まりを断（ことわ）りました。
Pleading illness, I turned down the gathering.
Breakdown
祝（いわ）いにかこつけて、皆（みな）で飲（の）みに行（い）きました。
Using the celebration as a pretext, we all went out drinking.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜から
Reason 〜から (because)
Gives a reason or cause — "because ~ / since ~". Subjective and conversational. Comes afte...
〜ので
Reason 〜ので (formal because)
A more formal / softer "because" than から. Used in polite speech, business, and writing....
〜以上（は）
Now that 〜以上は
"Now that ~", "since ~" — given this fact, a duty or resolve follows.
〜だけあって
As you would expect 〜だけあって
"As you would expect of ~", "no wonder, given that ~". Admiring.
〜ことから
Judging from 〜ことから
"From the fact that ~", "judging from ~" — states the evidence a conclusion rests on.
〜につき
Due to / per 〜につき
"Due to ~" in official notices; also "per ~" for rates.
〜ゆえ（に）
Owing to (literary) 〜ゆえ（に）
"Because of ~", "owing to ~" — a stiff, literary statement of cause.
〜とあって
Given the occasion 〜とあって
"Because it is (the special occasion of) ~" — a special situation produces a natural resul...
〜ばこそ
It is only because 〜ばこそ
"It is precisely because ~ (and nothing else)" — an emphatic, positive reason.
〜あっての
Made possible only by 〜あっての
"Which exists only thanks to ~", "~ is what makes it possible".
〜手前
With others watching 〜手前
"Since ~ (and with people watching), I have no choice but to ..." — social face forces the...
〜こととて
Seeing that (apologetic) 〜こととて
"Because it is ~ (please excuse it)" — a humble reason offered with an apology.