special pleading
noun1
Arguing that a particular case is an exception to a generally accepted rule, without justification and without a relevant basis.
- Lt. Gilbert deserves a full and fair hearing just like everyone else, no matter how the chips fall, no special pleading, and no playing the gender card.1997 September 30, The Court-Martial of Sandra Gilbert (JAG), season 3, episode 2:
- Synonyms
- stacking the deck
- Derived terms
- special pleader
- Related terms
- double standard