explain oneself

explain oneself
explain oneself
1. to explain what one has said or done or what one thinks or feels. (Formal and polite.) •

Please take a moment to explain yourself. I'm sure we are interested in your ideas.

•

Yes, if you will let me explain myself, I think you'll agree with my idea.

2. to give an explanation or excuse for something wrong that one may have done. (Usually said in anger.) •

Young man! Come in here and explain yourself this instant.

•

Why did you do that, Tom Smith? You had better explain yourself, and it had better be good.

* * *
{v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. * /When we didn't understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself./ 2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. * /When Jack brought Mary home at three o'clock in the morning, her father asked him to explain himself./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • explain oneself — {v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. * /When we didn t understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself./ 2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. * /When Jack brought …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • explain oneself — phrasal : to make clear the meaning of one s statements or the reasons for one s conduct * * * expand on what one has said in order to make one s meaning clear ■ give an account of one s motives or conduct in order to excuse or justify oneself he …   Useful english dictionary

  • explain oneself — give information about oneself, account for one s behavior or actions, make oneself understandable, express oneself …   English contemporary dictionary

  • explain\ oneself — v. phr. 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. When we didn t understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself. 2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. When Jack brought Mary… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • explain oneself — excuse or justify one s behaviour. → explain …   English new terms dictionary

  • explain oneself — phrasal to clarify one s statements or the reasons for one s conduct …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • explain — [ek splān′, iksplān′] vt. [ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex , out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see PLANE2): sp. infl. by PLAIN1] 1. to make clear, plain, or understandable 2. to give the meaning or interpretation… …   English World dictionary

  • explain — ► VERB 1) make clear by giving a detailed description. 2) give a reason or justification for. 3) (explain oneself) excuse or justify one s motives or conduct. 4) (explain away) minimize the significance of (something awkward) by giving an excuse… …   English terms dictionary

  • explain — v.tr. 1 make clear or intelligible with detailed information etc. (also absol. : let me explain). 2 (foll. by that + clause) say by way of explanation. 3 account for (one s conduct etc.). Phrases and idioms: explain away minimize the significance …   Useful english dictionary

  • explain — verb 1》 make (something) clear by providing more detail. 2》 give a reason or justification for.     ↘(explain oneself) excuse or justify one s behaviour.     ↘(explain something away) minimize the significance of something embarrassing by giving… …   English new terms dictionary

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