[make] an excuse

to give a reason or explanation to avoid doing something or to explain a mistake or failure

He tried to make an excuse for being late to the meeting, citing heavy traffic.
She made an excuse for not completing her assignment, claiming her computer had crashed.
Instead of making excuses, he took responsibility for the error and worked to correct it.
People sometimes make excuses to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.
Making excuses for missing the deadline won't solve the problem; it's better to communicate honestly.