noun
Refers to a verbal dodge or a pretext used to avoid giving a direct answer or to escape a difficult situation.
彼の言い抜けは誰にも通じなかった。
His evasion didn't fool anyone.
そんな言い抜けは通用しないよ。
That kind of excuse won't work.
Compound of 言い (the continuative form of 言う 'to say') and 抜け (the continuative form of 抜ける 'to slip out, escape'). Literally 'saying one's way out'.