Collocation Dictionary
Common collocations with pretext in American Collocation
false
New legislation is needed to protect consumers from individuals and companies who attempt to obtain personal or financial information under false pretexts.
slight or difficult to believe
The police constantly harass them and demand their identity papers on the slightest pretext.
providing an advantage
He was executed using some convenient pretext.
difficult to believe
His view is that Britain and America invaded Iraq on the flimsiest pretext.
when emphasizing that something is just a pretext
The claim that nuclear deterrence is needed to avoid biological and chemical attacks is understood by many as a mere pretext to retain nuclear weapons forever.
likely to be true
I managed to find a plausible pretext to see him.
provide a pretext
A 4–0 home defeat by Manchester United provided the pretext for sacking him.
find a pretext
He would usually find some pretext to go upstairs when I was around.
look for a pretext
Are the U.S. and Britain seeking a pretext for intervention in order to take advantage of Sudan’s oil?
create a pretext
They must not appear to be deliberately creating a pretext for war.