PHRASAL VERB 为…辩解;搪塞 If someone explains away a mistake or a bad situation they are responsible for, they try to indicate that it is unimportant or that it is not really their fault. 为…辩解;搪塞
He evaded her questions about the war and tried to explain away the atrocities. [VERBPREP. noun]
他回避了她有关战争的问题,极力为那些暴行辩解。
I had noticed blood on my husband's clothing but he explained it away. [VERB noun PREP.]