What's the word for saying that you're bad at something so you won't have to do it?
A term for getting out of a task by claiming your inability to do it. If I remember correctly the word has 'impotence' in it.
For example:
"John could you cook us dinner?"
"Me? No, I'm really bad at cooking.. you want Anny to do it"
"John, stop {claiming inability} and get on with it!"
I'm looking for a word that describes what John just did.
"Pleading incompetence" should do it.
incompetence
noun the quality or condition of being incompetent; lack of ability.
dictionary.com