plea
/pli:; pli/ n
1 (fml 文) ~ (for sth) earnest request; appeal 恳求; 请求
a plea for forgiveness, money, more time 恳求原谅、 给予金钱、 多给些时间
He was deaf to (ie refused to listen to) her pleas. 他对她的请求充耳不闻.
2 (law 律) statement made by or for a person charged with an offence in court （法庭中被告一方的）抗辩, 答辩, 辩护
enter a plea of guilty/not guilty 承认有罪[不承认有罪].
3 (idm 习语) on the plea of sth/that... (fml 文) giving sth as the reason or excuse for not doing sth or for having done sth wrong （为未做某事或做错某事而作的）辩解, 托词, 藉口
withdraw on the plea of ill health 藉口健康不佳而退出
He refused to contribute, on the plea that he couldn't afford it. 他藉口无能为力拒不捐献.