It is, rather, a set of vague phrases that, when put in motion, somehow justify the introduction of other vague phrases.

So far they have managed to sell 40 of these jumpers, which somehow justifies an enormous photo and 1,400 breathless words.

But he hated to think their per- spective could somehow justify what they were going to do to Tycho.

What were they going to do that could somehow justify all this effort that Smith's organization was putting into a teenage Indian boy?

The character had to have relatively little to do with the overall meaning of the story, but our challenge was to somehow justify his presence.

"If I charge it, I feel like I still have to deal with bills at the end of the month and somehow justify it."

"I was most concerned that the movie would be seen as somehow justifying this war," Mr. Haggis said.

He would somehow justify himself.

Or maybe these men could somehow justify to themselves having murdered but not raped.

They somehow justify that as "only happening when I'm out of town."