1.
to deceive, to cheat, to swindle
To trick someone for personal gain, such as cheating on expenses or falsifying numbers.
経費を誤魔化した。
I fudged the expenses.
おつりを誤魔化されたかもしれない。
I might have been shortchanged.
年齢を誤魔化して入場した。
I lied about my age to get in.
2.
to gloss over, to cover up, to fudge
To hide a mistake, avoid a difficult question, or smooth over an awkward situation by being evasive or changing the subject.
笑って誤魔化した。
I laughed it off to cover it up.
質問を誤魔化さないでください。
Please don't dodge the question.
失敗を誤魔化そうとしたが、すぐにばれた。
I tried to cover up the mistake, but it was found out right away.
USAGE:
誤魔化す is a godan verb that takes を to mark what is being concealed or faked. The kanji 誤魔化す is ateji — the word is often written in kana as ごまかす. Both forms are common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 笑って誤魔化す: to laugh it off
- 年齢を誤魔化す: to lie about one's age
- 数字を誤魔化す: to fudge the numbers
- 質問を誤魔化す: to evade a question
- 誤魔化しがきかない: cannot be covered up
SIMILAR WORDS:
騙す (to trick, to deceive) implies a more deliberate and calculated deception, while 誤魔化す often involves minor dishonesty or evasion. 誤魔化す can be relatively casual — dodging an awkward question is ごまかす, but a major fraud would more likely use 騙す.