justify oneself; make consistent; self-consistent
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to make one's argument or lie consistent and free of contradictions; to justify oneself; to make one's story hang together
Often used when someone tries to cover up inconsistencies in their story or argument. Can carry a slightly negative connotation when referring to fabricating excuses or covering up lies, but can also be used neutrally to mean making a theory coherent.
Tā他
de的
jiě解
shì释
qián前
hòu后
máo矛
dùn盾
，
gēn根
běn本
wú无
fǎ法
zì自
yuán圆
qí其
shuō说
。
His explanations contradict each other and simply cannot hold water.
Wèi为
le了
zì自
yuán圆
qí其
shuō说
，
tā他
bù不
dé得
bù不
biān编
zào造
gèng更
duō多
xì细
jié节
。
To make his story consistent, he had to fabricate more details.
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Zhè这
gè个
lǐ理
lùn论
hěn很
nán难
zì自
yuán圆
qí其
shuō说
。
This theory is difficult to justify or make coherent.
Xiōng凶
shǒu手
shì试
tú图
zì自
yuán圆
qí其
shuō说
，
dàn但
jǐng警
fāng方
hěn很
kuài快
fā发
xiàn现
le了
lòu漏
dòng洞
。
The murderer tried to make his story hang together, but the police quickly found the holes.