answer for

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 (for: ↑account)
Hypernyms: ↑declare
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

* * *

answer for [phrasal verb]
1 answer for (something)
1 a : to take responsibility for (something)

I can't answer for their safety. [=I can't promise that they will be safe]

: to be responsible for (something)

The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees.

She has a lot to answer for. [=she is responsible for many bad things that have happened]

1 b : to be punished for (something)

He must answer for his crimes.

1 c US : to be used as (something) : to serve as (something)

The old bucket answered for a sink. [=the old bucket was used as a sink]

— see also answer 6 (above), 2
2 answer for (someone) : to say what someone else thinks : to give the opinion of (someone else)

I like the proposal myself, but I can't answer for my boss.

• • •
Main Entry:answer

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • answer for — (something) to admit responsibility for causing a problem or situation. He may not go to jail, but someday he is going to have to answer for what he did before God. If you mix art and politics critics get upset and you have to answer for it.… …   New idioms dictionary

  • answer for — I (act for) verb act on behalf of, appear for, be accepted for, be attorney for, be proxy for, be regarded as, be responsible for, be taken as, be the equivalent of, count for, front for, go as, pass as, pass for, represent, serve as, stand for,… …   Law 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 — {v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. * /The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family./ 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • answer for — {v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. * /The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family./ 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • answer\ for — v 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family. 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. When… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • 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

  • answer for — verb a) To be held responsible for. The mayor has a lot to answer for. b) To guarantee I will answer for his debt, if he cant pay on the day …   Wiktionary

  • answer for — he will answer for his crime Syn: pay for, be punished for, suffer for, make amends for …   Synonyms and antonyms dictionary

  • answer for — отвечать за что л., быть ответственным за что л. If you don t tell the truth now, you may have to answer for it later …   Idioms and examples

Share the article and excerpts

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