+for The conflict was used as a pretext for introducing military rule. 这次冲突被用作采取军事管制的借口。

onunder the pretext of doing sth He visited her on the pretext of borrowing a book. 他以借书为托词去拜访她。

a pretext to do sth A slight fall in profits gave the management a pretext to get rid of some older members of staff. 利润略微下挫就给了管理层一个借口来裁掉一些老员工。