•to find excuses, to explain oneself (to explain one's behavior or decisions at length in order to clarify oneself)
Etimoloji
Literally, “to explain one's report card”. From the title of a short story in Frigyes Karinthy's satirical short story collection Tanár úr kérem (Please, Sir!). In the story, a student tries to find excuses for his bad grades at the end of the school term.