the word 'convenient'

Question

Hi, guys~I'm studying English using 'FRIENDS'.Bellow is the conversation between Joey and Chandler.(Season 8 - Episode 8)Joey : Maybe Monica's playing a joke on ya. y'know? getting her own husband a hooker, that's pretty funny.chandler : this is funny, maybe for my birthday she'll murder someone.joey : i bet ross was in on it too. i mean he was conveniently busy.i looked up the meaning of the word 'conveniently' in the dictionary. but i don't understand exactly what the meaning of the word.please, help me~~~

Delmobile · Accepted Answer

Hi doramong - welcome to the forums!
In this instance, the word "convenient" does carry a little more meaning than its dictionary definition. Ordinarily, the word means "suited to easy performance or a particular situation." Thus: "I give John a ride to work every morning. His house is conveniently right on my way downtown, so it's no trouble."
Here, Joey is saying that Ross's excuse (presumably for not being at the party) is suspicious. He is using the word ironically. It seems just a little too convenient that Ross would happen to be busy that night.
Say, your friend Jane is fired from her job. And right at that same time, Susie, the boss's daughter-in-law, moves back to town. The boss hires her for your friend's job. You might say, "Gee, wasn't it convenient that Susie just happened to move here right after Jane got fired!"

HTH

CalifJim · Answer

Welcome to English Forums!

doramonghe was conveniently busy.

You may wish to look up the definitions of these related words: convenient, advantageous, well-timed, opportune, useful, profitable, suitable, felicitous
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If you don't want to accept an invitation, you may lie, saying "I can't accept. I'm busy then".
But if, by chance, you really are busy and therefore can't accept, you can tell the truth, saying, "I can't accept. I'm busy then".
Telling the truth is much better than lying, so it is very convenient (advantageous, felicitous) that you really are busy. It very conveniently (advantageously, felicitously) gives you a truthful excuse for not accepting the invitation you did not want to accept in any case. You are conveniently busy.
Now if I have made the invitation, and I don't completely believe that you are busy, I may show my disbelief when I tell another friend that you refused the invitation by saying, "He was conveniently busy". It shows that I doubt you are really going to be busy as you say. It shows that I think you were going to refuse my invitation whether you were busy or not.

CJ

Delmobile · Answer

masterfully done, calif jim <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Doramong · Answer

thank you, delmobile and CalifJim!!!

the word 'convenient'

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