Or was I just looking for an excuse to stay away?

If someone is always late, then you don't have to ask for an excuse.

"These might be students who the school was just looking for an excuse to subject to a drug test," she said.

It's almost as if everyone is just waiting for an excuse to do less.

They were looking for an excuse and you gave it to them.

He had been looking for an excuse to get into it.

I was looking for excuses but knew there weren't any.

You seem to be looking for excuses not to go there.

But no one seems to be looking for excuses this time.

"So you've just been waiting for an excuse to come out here?"