Dictionary

Alibi Ike en · NOUN

Etymology

From the principal character in "Alibi Ike" (1915), a short story by Ring Lardner Sr., and a subsequent film (1935) of the same name.

Meanings

1. (informal) One who is always ready to provide excuses for shortcomings, errors, or other difficulties.
   • Now, I'm no Alibi Ike, Teddy, but I think that was my downfall. 2010, Frank Deford, Bliss, Remembered: A Novel, →ISBN:
   • There's no foulup so lame that keepers of the flame like Andrew Bacevich, the modern Alibi Ike, can't excuse, spin and downplay. 2014 June 6, HarryRPitts, comment on "Benghazi, Bowe Bergdahl, and manufactured brouhaha" by Andrew Bacevich, Boston Globe (retrieved 10 July 2014)
   • Many times I have heard the "alibi Ike's" and apologists brush off complaints and ignore behaviors because the deviator in question is too critical, too important, too tenured, or too something! 2002, Jerome Alexander, 160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case for the Corporate Cynic, →ISBN, page 28:

Forms

Relateds

slick Rick · doubting Thomas · Gentleman Jim · sneaky Pete · nervous Nellie · Silent Sam · gloomy Gus · good-time Charlie · lazy Lawrence · nervous Purvis · Dapper Dan · plain Jane

Synonyms

apologist