Meaning
handhold, pretext
- A physical point to hold onto or step on while climbing; a foothold or handhold.
- (figuratively) A pretext, excuse, or justification used to support an argument or claim.
In a sentence
Lo scalatore cercava con cura il prossimo appiglio sulla roccia.
The climber was carefully searching for the next handhold on the rock.
L'avvocato ha trovato un appiglio legale per contestare il verdetto.
The lawyer found a legal pretext to contest the verdict.
Non dare loro alcun appiglio per criticare il tuo lavoro.
Don't give them any pretext to criticize your work.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| appiglio | masculine · singular |
| appigli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- In figurative usage, often appears with 'trovare' (to find an excuse) or 'dare' (to give a pretext).