Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definitions: Alibi |
AlibiNoun1. (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question. 2. A defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.; "he kept finding excuses to stay"; "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable". Verb1. Exonerate by means of an alibi. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "alibi" was first used: 1743. (references) |
Etymology: Alibi \Al"i*bi\, noun. [Latin expression, elsewhere, at another place. See Alias.]. (Websters 1913) |
| Domain | Definitions |
Literature | Alibi (elsewhere). A plea of having been at another place at the time that an offence is alleged to have been committed. "Never mind the character, and stick to the alley bi. Nothing like an alley bi, Sammy, nothing." - Dickens Pickwick Papers. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Alibi is a 1929 film that was written by Elaine S. Carrington, J.C. Nugent, C. Gardner Sullivan, Roland West and John Griffith Wray, from the play Nightstick by Carrington, Nugent and Wray. The film was directed by Roland West.
The movie is a crime melodrama starring Chester Morris, Harry Stubbs, Mae Busch and Eleanore Griffith. Director West did a great deal of experimentation with sound, music, and camera angles.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Chester Morris), Best Art Direction and Best Picture.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Alibi."
Synonyms: AlibiSynonyms: excuse (n), self-justification (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Absence | Noun: absence; inexistence; nonresidence, absenteeism; nonattendance, alibi. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Alibi |
| English words defined with "alibi": cover for ♦ excuse ♦ self-justification. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "alibi": Alibi Clock ♦ safety. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "alibi": Aubaine. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Alibi" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses. Afrikaan (alibi), Albanian (alibi), Czech (alibi), Danish (alibi), Dutch (alibi), French (alibi), German (alibi), Hungarian (alibi), Indonesian (alibi), Italian (alibi, alibis), Latin (alibi, else where, elsewhere, in another matter, in another place, in other respects, otherwise), Serbo-Croatian (alibi), Spanish (alibi), Swedish (alibi). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | When an alibi is full of bourbon, sir, it can't stand up. (Strangers on a Train; writing credit: Raymond Chandler; Whitfield Cook) But you had your alibi ready no matter who was dead. (Laura; writing credit: Vera Caspary; Jay Dratler) That was very good Captain, I mean except our Hamlet has an alibi. (The Division; writing credit: Guglielmo Enea; Marcello Fois) I think you mean alibi. (Muppet Babies; writing credit: Katherine Lawrence; Jeffrey Scott) You thought you had the perfect alibi and it's your alibi that'll undo you. (Columbo: An Exercise in Fatality; writing credit: Larry Cohen; Peter S. Fischer) | |
Lyrics | Use every alibi and words you deny (SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT; performing artist: Pat Benatar) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Polizeiruf 110 - Ein bisschen Alibi (1972) Alibi nella luce rossa (1970) L' Alibi (1969) Alibi na vode (1965) Ein Alibi zerbricht (1963) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Emo Philips | People always ask me, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?" Well, I don't have an alibi. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Human Rights | Tajikistan | The evidence presented against Jalilov was poor, and numerous witnesses supported the defense's alibi. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | SAFETY-:CLUTCH:, n. A mechanical device acting automatically to prevent the fall of an elevator, or cage, in case of an accident to the hoisting apparatus. Once I seen a human ruin In an elevator-well, And his members was bestrewin' All the place where he had fell. And I says, apostrophisin' That uncommon woful wreck: "Your position's so surprisin' That I tremble for your neck!" Then that ruin, smilin' sadly And impressive, up and spoke: "Well, I wouldn't tremble badly, For it's been a fortnight broke." Then, for further comprehension Of his attitude, he begs I will focus my attention On his various arms and legs -- How they all are contumacious; Where they each, respective, lie; How one trotter proves ungracious, T'other one an alibi. These particulars is mentioned For to show his dismal state, Which I wasn't first intentioned To specifical relate. None is worser to be dreaded That I ever have heard tell Than the gent's who there was spreaded In that elevator-well. Now this tale is allegoric -- It is figurative all, For the well is metaphoric And the feller didn't fall. I opine it isn't moral For a writer-man to cheat, And despise to wear a laurel As was gotten by deceit. For 'tis Politics intended By the elevator, mind, It will boost a person splendid If his talent is the kind. Col. Bryan had the talent (For the busted man is him) And it shot him up right gallant Till his head begun to swim. Then the rope it broke above him And he painful come to earth Where there's nobody to love him For his detrimented worth. Though he's livin' none would know him, Or at leastwise not as such. Moral of this woful poem: Frequent oil your safety-clutch. Porfer Poog |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Alibi" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Alibi" is used about 172 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 172 | 23,722 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Country | Name |
| United Kingdom | Alibi Communications PLC |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "alibi": an airtight alibi ♦ establish one's alibi ♦ provide an alibi. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
alibi | 125 | albuquerque alibi weekly | 4 |
albuquerque alibi | 20 | alibi shoes | 4 |
alibi weekly | 19 | alibi george | 4 |
no alibi | 13 | alibi cains | 3 |
her alibi | 9 | alibi lyrics | 3 |
alibi georgies | 7 | alibi mendes sergio | 3 |
alibi brown e joe | 6 | alibi book | 3 |
alibi room | 6 | alibi mexico new | 3 |
alibi band | 6 | alibi song | 3 |
alibi doig lexa no | 6 | alibi restaurant | 2 |
alibi lawrence lyrics tracy | 5 | alibi room seattle | 2 |
alibi ibis | 5 | alibi bad | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "alibi"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Afrikaan | alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | alibi, justifikim (allowance, defence, defense, exculpation, excuse, extenuation, justification, plea, warrant). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | قدم عذرا, عذر (excuse, justification, plea, pretext), إدعاء المتهم, دفع بالغيبة. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | оправдавам въз основа на алиби, алиби, претекст (color, colour, come off, excuse, peg, plea, pretence, pretense, pretext, put off, salvo, stalking horse, subterfuge), представям алиби, представям извинение, извинение (apology, excuse, extenuation, justification, pardon, peg, put off). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 借口 (Excuse). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Esperanto | alibio. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Farsi | غیبت هنگام وقوع جرم , عذرخواستن , عذر (Excuse, Peg, Plea, Pretext, Purporst, Subterfuge), جای دیگر (Otherwhere), بهانه اوردن (Pretext), بهانه (Evasion, Excuse, Fetch, Fiction, Mask, Peg, Plea, Pretense, Pretext, Purporst, Subterfuge). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | alibi, excuse. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | Alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | άλλοθι. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | אליבי. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | alibi, máshollét, kifogás (caveat, censure, evasion, exception, excuse, kick, mask, objection, plea, pretension, pretext, remonstrance, shabby excuse, stalking horse, stricture, subterfuge). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indonesian | alibi. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Irish | ailibí. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | alibi (alibis). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | アラ 語 (a la mode, alkali, alligator, American league, Aramaic, arcadia, archaic, archaic smile, archaism, arena, aria, aristocracy, aristocrat), 不在証明 . (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | ふざいしょうめい, アリバイ . (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Korean | 알리"이. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | alibai. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | alibiay álibi. (various references) алиби (alibis). (various references) alibi. (various references) coartada, excusa (apology, excuse, excuse me, plea, sorry). (various references) alibi. (various references) suç mahallinden başka yerde, suç anında başka yerde olduğu iddiası, mazeret (allegation, apology, excuse, justification, peg, plea, putoff), gerekçe (excuse, justification, rationale, reason). (various references) виправдовуватися (explain), виправдання (absolution, acquittal, acquittance, allowance, apology, defence, defense, exculpation, excuse, explanation, justification, palliation, warrant, warranty, whitewash), алібі, привід (cause, cloak, grievance, handle, occasion, pretence, pretense, pretext, salvo, subject). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | alibi. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "alibi": alibied, alibies, alibiing, alibis. (additional references) | |
| |
"Alibi" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: abibi, Abilio, Adibo, Aflaqi, ahii, aiba, aibbf, aiii, Ailbe, Akiba, alabi, alaby, Alagi, Alazi, albian, albid, albie, albio, albir, Albizia, aleb, Aledby, algii, alib, Alibar, alibie, aliby, Alii, ali'i, Alipio, Allab, Allambie, Allamby, alliby, allicin, allii, Allipio, alob, Aloba, Alombie, Alywin, Anlaby, Aslaby, Atibu, avib, Azizi, calib, Daliba, Dalibor, Eiiib, elibe, flibi, halibin, Iplib, Kalabu, Kalili, Olbiil, railbuf, Wajiba. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "alibi" (pronounced a"lubī') |
| 4 | -l u b ī' | lullaby. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
Direct Anagrams: biali. | |
| Words within the letters "a-b-i-i-l" | |
-1 letter: bail, ilia. | |
-2 letters: ail, alb, bal, lab, lib. | |
-3 letters: ab, ai, al, ba, bi, la, li. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-b-i-i-l" | |
+1 letter: alibis, bailie, bialis, tibial. | |
+2 letters: abigail, ability, aiblins, albinic, albitic, albizia, alibied, alibies, bacilli, bailies, bailiff, bailing, basilic, bialies, biaxial, bifilar, biliary, bolivia, bulimia, minilab, stibial. | |
+3 letters: abigails, albinism, albizias, albizzia, alibiing, bailiffs, basidial, basilica, basilisk, biblical, biennial, bifacial, bilabial, bilinear, billiard, binomial, biocidal, biotical, biracial, biradial, bolivias, brailing, brainily, brasilin, brazilin, bulimiac, bulimias, diabolic, fibrilla, fimbrial, imitable, inviable, inviably, jailbait, jailbird, kielbasi, lability, libation, millibar, minilabs, obligati, pitiable, pitiably, railbird, sibilant, sibilate, vitiable. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)41 6C 69 62 69 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references).- .-.. .. -... .. |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01000001 01101100 01101001 01100010 01101001 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)A l i b i |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0041 006C 0069 0062 0069 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)3578756875 |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Quotations: Familiar 7. Quotations: Non-fiction 8. Usage Frequency | 9. Names: Company Usage 10. Expressions 11. Expressions: Internet 12. Translations: Modern | 13. Translations: Ancient 14. Derivations 15. Rhymes 16. Anagrams | 17. Orthography 18. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
