Alibi Ike

English

Etymology

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

Noun

AlibiIke(pluralAlibi Ikes)

1. (informal)One who is always ready to provideexcusesforshortcomings,errors,or otherdifficulties.
   • 2002,Jerome Alexander,160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case for the Corporate Cynic,→ISBN,page28:

     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!

   • 2010,Frank Deford,Bliss, Remembered: A Novel‎^[1],→ISBN:

     Now, I'm noAlibi Ike,Teddy, but I think that was my downfall.

   • 2014June 6, HarryRPitts, comment on "Benghazi, Bowe Bergdahl, and manufactured brouhaha"by Andrew Bacevich,Boston Globe(retrieved 10 July 2014):

     There's no foulup so lame that keepers of the flame like Andrew Bacevich, the modernAlibi Ike,can't excuse, spin and downplay.

Synonyms

• apologist

See also

• Dapper Dan,doubting Thomas,Gentleman Jim,gloomy Gus,good-time Charlie,nervous Nellie,plain Jane,Silent Sam