answer for
English edit
Verb edit
answer for (third-person singular simple present answers for, present participle answering for, simple past and past participle answered for)
- (transitive, intransitive) To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something.
- The mayor will be answering for his crimes for many years.
- 1984, Morrissey, Johnny Marr (lyrics and music), “Suffer Little Children”, in The Smiths, performed by The Smiths:
- Oh John, you'll never be a man / And you'll never see your home again / Oh Manchester, so much to answer for
- 2007 September, Wilson D Miscamble, “The Faculty 'Problem'”, in America, volume 197, number 6, page 26:
- Duffy dared to think that Queen Elizabeth I has a few things for which to answer
- 2021 April 26, Gaby Hinsliff, “Vaccine hoarding is all the more disturbing as a Covid disaster unfolds in India”, in The Guardian[1], →ISSN:
- It’s true Modi has much to answer for. But still there is something disturbing about the fact that India is on track for up to half a million cases a day on some projections, while Britons young enough to have practically zero chance of dying from Covid get vaccinated.
- (transitive) To guarantee.
- I will answer for his debt, if he can't pay on the day.
- (transitive) To vouch for (someone); to attest to the character of (someone).
- She's known me for years, and she's always answered for me!
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see answer, for.
- I don't know the answer to that, so I'm going to let my lawyer answer for me.
Usage notes edit
- The verb and particle are usually not separated.
Translations edit
to be held responsible for