explain oneself

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 was too panicked to stay and explain himself to the policeman


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — {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 — 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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