事こと寄よせる

ichidan verb, transitive verb

pretend; use as a pretext

Used when someone uses a situation or reason as an excuse to do something else, often with a nuance of feigning or making a pretext. Commonly appears in the pattern 〜に事寄せて.

• 彼かれは病びょう気きにことよせて会かい議ぎを欠けっ席せきした。

  He used illness as a pretext to skip the meeting.

• 出しゅっ張ちょうにことよせて、ついでに観かん光こうも楽たのしんだ。

  Taking advantage of the business trip, I also enjoyed some sightseeing on the side.