言いい繕つくろう

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

explain away; make excuses for; gloss over; talk one's way out of

Used when someone tries to cover up a mistake, failure, or awkward situation with words, often in a somewhat evasive or smoothing-over manner.

• 彼かれは遅ち刻こくの理り由ゆうを言いい繕つくろおうとした。

  He tried to explain away his lateness.

• 失しっ敗ぱいを言いい繕つくろうより、素す直なおに謝あやまったほうがいい。

  Instead of making excuses for your mistake, it's better to apologize honestly.