Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary PowersDivision (I) Individual Volition
Section I. Volition in General
2. Causes of Volition
617. [Ostensible Motive, Ground, or Reason.] Plea.
handle, peg to hang on; room, locus standi [L.]; stalking-horse, cheval de bataille [F.], cue.
LOOPHOLE, starting-hole [obs.]; hole to creep out of, come-off [colloq.], way of escape.
PRETENSE (untruth) [See Untruth]; put-off, subterfuge, dust thrown in the eye; blind; moonshine; mere -, shallow- pretext; lame -excuse, – apology; tub to a whale; false plea, sour grapes; makeshift, shift, white lie; special pleading (sophistry) [See Intuition. Sophistry]; soft sawder [slang] (flattery) [See Flattery].