on the pretext of vs under the pretext of

Both "on the pretext of" and "under the pretext of" are correct phrases in English. They are interchangeable and can be used to indicate a false reason or excuse for doing something. The choice between the two is a matter of personal preference or style.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1948 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"on the pretext of"

The phrase 'on the pretext of' is used to introduce the false reason or excuse for an action or behavior.

Examples:

He left the party early on the pretext of having an early meeting the next day.
She borrowed money from her friend on the pretext of needing it for an emergency.
They canceled the event on the pretext of bad weather.
The company fired him on the pretext of poor performance.
She avoided the meeting on the pretext of feeling unwell.

Show examples from the web [+]

The 'green economy' is being designed so that, on the pretext of combating climate change, new profitable sectors of activity can be opened up for capital.
I refuse to support this hypocritical text which, on the pretext of condemning some, pardons the others.
Parliament also insisted that ACTA should not affect global access to affordable and safe medicinal products on the pretext of combating counterfeiting.
All this, on the pretext of competition between the major monopolistic enterprises so that by cutting labour costs they can increase their already excessive profits.
They have warned that human rights must not be curtailed on the pretext of combating terrorism.
Sending the army into Tibetan monasteries on the pretext of looking for arms and terrorists has become a regular practice.
Extreme, antisocial measures were then taken, on the pretext of reducing the public deficit and debt and improving competitiveness.
The 'governance' proposed on the pretext of improving coordination aims to bypass and punish national parliaments opposed to this dogma being applied.
All too often, on the pretext of creating transparency, we complicate procedures and impose too many requirements regarding beneficiaries.
According to human and civil rights activists, this is an attempt to close EU borders to undesirable refugees from Africa and elsewhere on the pretext of combating crime and terrorism.
Above all, a framework programme should not forget the specific actions on the pretext of refocusing.
condemning the war launched by the Russian Federation against Chechnya on the pretext of combating terrorist movements,
What I should have liked to see from the Commission was an initiative to restore freedom of expression and information in all European Member States wherever these are under very real threat from freedom-killing legislation, often on the pretext of supposedly combating racism.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, even though many people have spoken out against a war in Iraq, the United States are continuing their threats with new demands, on the pretext of combating terrorism.
We reject any measure that, on the pretext of preserving nature, destroys the livelihoods of the small-scale fishermen who survive on what they earn.
However, we voted against the text as a whole because, on the pretext of wanting wars 'that conform with international law' it justifies past, present and future imperialist attacks.
He has not relinquished his concept of 'preventative war', a euphemism used to legitimise war anywhere and at any time on the pretext of combating terrorism.
The report proposes imposing a single rate of excise duty on all Member States and harmonisation of prices, on the pretext of making things more straightforward, easier and fairer.
This step was taken on the pretext of providing humanitarian aid to Pakistan, whereas in reality, it fulfils the desires of the major importers in the European Union.
Mr President, following 11 September 2001, the United States, on the pretext of maximising security, have been waging an underground, and for a time secret, war.

Alternatives:

under the pretext of
using the excuse of
under the guise of
on the pretense of
under the pretense of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"under the pretext of"

The phrase 'under the pretext of' is used to introduce the false reason or excuse for an action or behavior.

Examples:

He left the party early under the pretext of having an early meeting the next day.
She borrowed money from her friend under the pretext of needing it for an emergency.
They canceled the event under the pretext of bad weather.
The company fired him under the pretext of poor performance.
She avoided the meeting under the pretext of feeling unwell.

Show examples from the web [+]

Your company will be crushed under the pretext of this nation's taxes.
You've been demanding donations under the pretext of building the Asian Martial Arts Centre.
I was interned at Ville Evrard then, under the pretext of war, at Montdevergues, near Avignon.
That is inadmissible, especially as fundamental civil rights seem to be squandered under the pretext of the United States's fight against crime.
My constituent contends that Easyjet has been ignoring his claims, usually under the pretext of not having received his letters.
These effectively amount to trade barriers which, under the pretext of protecting some specific local feature or other, have the effect of banning imports and protecting local producers.
The climate change package, you said, is so important that we cannot simply lose it under the pretext of a financial crisis.
Fifthly, the mechanisms of repression are being strengthened under the pretext of combating terrorism.
It is not for states to provide technological solutions to be implemented under the pretext of consumer protection.
Essentially, under the pretext of defending human rights, he wants to turn Europe into an open community that is prepared to take in all the misery in the world.
Now, this version was rejected by the European legislator and it is intolerable that the judges are able to set themselves up as lawmakers under the pretext of interpreting the law.
I have voted in favour of Amendment 2 because I consider it inadmissible that borders could be changed under the pretext of 'care' for the minorities in neighbouring countries.
The European Parliament cannot allow the civil rights and freedoms of Europeans to be adversely affected under the pretext of the fight against terrorism.
Likewise, the Treaty of Lisbon cannot be exploited for this purpose, nor may such objectives be pursued under the pretext of crisis management.
The French politicians Mr Sarkozy and Mrs Lagarde have revealed their true intentions by insisting for weeks on raising tax rates in Ireland, under the pretext of the fight against the crisis.
Just recently, there have been problems in France and other EU states, which could worsen under the pretext of the economic and social crisis.
This is without doubt the result of uncoordinated action by some Member States which, under the pretext of combating climate change, are seeking in this way to keep their economies competitive.
We know how the banking sector and other financial companies are being supported, under the pretext of avoiding a crisis in the financial sector and its possible repercussions.
On the one hand there is a corrupt government, and on the other there are rebels describing themselves as Maoists, fighting each other, each under the pretext of supporting the impoverished rural population.
While I fully respect the need for the highest possible level of vigilance against terrorism, the terrorists will have won if we sacrifice civil liberties and human rights under the pretext of ensuring security.

Alternatives:

on the pretext of
using the excuse of
under the guise of
on the pretense of
under the pretense of

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on the pretext of vs under the pretext of

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