病びょう気きに託かこつけて

expression

under the pretext of illness; using illness as an excuse

Fixed expression meaning to use illness as a pretext for avoiding something or doing something else. Often implies the illness is exaggerated or not the real reason.

• 彼かれは病びょう気きに託かこつけて会かい議ぎを欠けっ席せきした。

  He skipped the meeting under the pretext of being ill.

• 病びょう気きに託かこつけて仕し事ごとを休やすむのはよくない。

  It's not good to take time off work using illness as an excuse.