answer for
phrasal verbanswer for something
- to accept responsibility or blame for something
- You will have to answer for your behaviour one day.
- This government has a lot to answer for (= is responsible for a lot of bad things).
- to promise that somebody has a particular quality or can be relied on to do something
- I can answer for her honesty.
- Anne says she can answer for his ability to do the job well.
answer for somebody
- (usually in negative sentences) to say that somebody else will do something or have a particular opinion
- I agree, but I can't answer for my colleagues.