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invoke

English translation: cite and rely upon something as a reason or excuse

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:invoke
Selected answer:cite and rely upon something as a reason or excuse
Entered by: B D Finch

17:00 Aug 7, 2014
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: invoke
The following text is an edited extract from an article by London-based journalist Roger Cohen published in The New York Times and discusses the attitude to risk in the UK:

"The balance between personal freedom and responsibility and government oversight has become seriously skewed throughout the West over the past decade. Sometimes post-9/11 security is invoked, sometimes health, always safety: the result is less initiative."

I am translating into Bulgarian but the traditional translations for "invoke" seem not too appropriate.

Could you suggest what is the closest meaning and/or another way to say "invoke security, health, safety"..

Thank you in advance!
Vilina Svetoslavova
Bulgaria
Local time: 22:30
cite and rely upon something as a reason or excuse
Explanation:
Sometimes post-9/11 security is being invoked to excuse government inroads on personal freedom. It's important to note that this is not just "cited", which simply means to make reference to, but also to rely upon it as a reason or excuse that justifies what would normally be considered unjust.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:30
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5cite and rely upon something as a reason or excuse
B D Finch
4 +1cite
airmailrpl
4referred to
Audra deFalco (X)


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
cite


Explanation:
in·voke
inˈvōk/
verb
verb: invoke; 3rd person present: invokes; past tense: invoked; past participle: invoked; gerund or present participle: invoking

cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.
"the antiquated defense of insanity is rarely invoked today"
synonyms: cite, refer to, adduce, instance;
resort to, have recourse to, turn to
"he invoked his statutory rights"
call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.
synonyms: appeal to, pray to, call on, supplicate, entreat, solicit, beg, implore;
literarybeseech
"I invoked the Madonna"
call earnestly for.
"she invoked his help against this attack"
summon (a spirit) by charms or incantation.
synonyms: summon, call (up), conjure (up)
"invoking spirits"
give rise to; evoke.
"how could she explain how the accident happened without invoking his wrath?"
Computing
cause (a procedure) to be carried out.

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 16:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 19
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Catherine Fitzsimons: In this instance, 'cited' or 'referred to' are the most appropriate synonyms from the list above. Could also use the phrase 'given as the (or a) reason'.
6 mins
  -> thank you
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
cite and rely upon something as a reason or excuse


Explanation:
Sometimes post-9/11 security is being invoked to excuse government inroads on personal freedom. It's important to note that this is not just "cited", which simply means to make reference to, but also to rely upon it as a reason or excuse that justifies what would normally be considered unjust.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for pointing out the difference!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Charles
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: yes, not just "cite"
8 hrs
  -> Thanks Gallagy
agree  Václav Pinkava: being turned to for justification, support
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Vaclav
agree  Veronika McLaren
18 hrs
  -> Thanks Veronika
agree  Max Deryagin
22 hrs
  -> Thanks Max
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
referred to


Explanation:
Just another option, but cite is really good.

Audra deFalco (X)
United States
Local time: 15:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
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