pretextar

to claim

pretextar

transitive verb

1. (general)

a. to claim

Cuando le acusaron de no haber hecho nada para resolver el problema, el presidente pretextó la falta de medios.

When he was accused of not having done anything to solve the problem, the president claimed that he lacked the means to do so.

b. to use as a pretext

Los militares dieron un golpe de estado pretextando que el país estaba sumido en el caos.

The military staged a coup d'état using as a pretext the fact that the country was in chaos.

c. to use as an excuse

Si no te apetece ir a la fiesta, podrías pretextar que tienes que levantarte mañana muy temprano.

If you don't feel like going to the party, you could use as an excuse the fact that you have to get up very early tomorrow morning.

d.

no direct translation

Le pedí que se quedara a ayudarme, pero él pretextó que tenía que ir a buscar a sus hijos a la escuela y se fue corriendo.

I asked him to stay and help me, but he excused himself, saying that he had to pick up his kids from school, and left in a hurry.

Pepe se negó a contribuir al regalo de cumpleaños de Javier pretextando que no tenía dinero.

Pepe refused to contribute to Javier's birthday present on the pretext that he had no money.