answer for someone or something

answer for someone or something
answer for someone or something
Fig. to explain or justify the actions of someone or some act; to take responsibility or blame for someone or something. •

You will have to answer for your children's bad behavior.

I will answer only for my own misdeeds.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • answer for — verb furnish a justifying analysis or explanation I can t account for the missing money • Syn: ↑account • Derivationally related forms: ↑accountable (for: ↑account), ↑account ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • answer for — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms answer for : present tense I/you/we/they answer for he/she/it answers for present participle answering for past tense answered for past participle answered for 1) answer for something to agree to be… …   English dictionary

  • answer for something —    If someone has to answer for something, they have to accept responsibility for their actions.     He will have to answer for his dishonesty …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • answer for — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you have to answer for something bad or wrong you have done, you are punished for it. [V P n] He must be made to answer for his terrible crimes. Syn: pay 2) PHRASE: have inflects If you say that someone has a lot to answer for …   English dictionary

  • (the) answer to someone's prayers — the answer to (someone s) prayers someone or something that someone has needed very much for a long time. A new supermarket delivery service was the answer to my prayers …   New idioms dictionary

  • answer — an|swer1 [ ænsər ] verb *** ▸ 1 reply to question, etc. ▸ 2 in a test/competition ▸ 3 explain your behavior ▸ 4 provide what is needed ▸ 5 do something as a reaction ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive to give a spoken reply to a question …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • answer — 1 noun 1 REPLY (C, U) something you say when you reply to a question that someone has asked you: I asked Janine what she thought, but I m still waiting for her answer. | give (sb) an answer: You don t have to give them an answer straight away. |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • answer — an|swer1 W1S1 [ˈa:nsə US ˈænsər] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(reply)¦ 2¦(test/competition etc)¦ 3¦(invitation/letter etc)¦ 4¦(problem)¦ 5¦(on the phone)¦ 6¦(at the door)¦ 7 have/know all the answers 8 somebody s answer to something ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [: Old English; …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • answer — [[t]ɑ͟ːnsə(r), æ̱n [/t]] ♦ answers, answering, answered 1) VERB When you answer someone who has asked you something, you say something back to them. [V n] I knew Ben was lying when he answered me... [V n] Just answer the question... He paused… …   English dictionary

  • answer */*/*/ — I UK [ˈɑːnsə(r)] / US [ˈænsər] noun Word forms answer : singular answer plural answers 1) a) [countable/uncountable] a spoken reply to a question It was a tough question, but Ginny had her answer ready. answer to: The answer to your question is… …   English dictionary

  • answer*/*/*/ — [ˈɑːnsə] noun [C] I 1) a spoken or written reply to something such as a question, a letter, or a telephone call I wrote to her in May but I never got an answer.[/ex] I ll give you a definite answer tomorrow.[/ex] The answer to your question is… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”