speak for

British  

verb

1. to speak as a representative of (other people)

2. to be so evident that no further comment is necessary

3. informal (used as an imperative) do not presume that other people agree with you

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speak for Idioms  

1. Intercede for, recommend, as in He spoke for the young applicant, commending her honesty . [c. 1300]

2. Express the views of, as in I can't speak for my husband but I'd love to accept , or I don't care what Harry thinks—Speak for yourself, Joe . [c. 1300]

3. speak for itself . Be significant or self-evident, as in They haven't called us in months, and that speaks for itself . [Second half of 1700s]

4. spoken for . Ordered, engaged, or reserved, as in This lot of rugs is already spoken for , or Is this dance spoken for? This usage comes from the older verb, bespeak , meaning “to order.” [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

I can’t speak for your coworker as to his reasoning but the converse of what I just wrote gives hints as to why some people may leave their funds with their former employer’s plan.

From MarketWatch

“His statement was really strong. I think it really speaks for itself,” said Paulson.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our country is not for sale,” Mr. Nielsen insists, speaking for the autonomous Danish territory.

From The Wall Street Journal

I couldn’t speak for the knot that had tied itself around my heart.

From Literature

“I can only speak for the sheriff’s office, and I can tell you that the deputies that investigated that did absolutely the right thing,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advance
• advertise
• advocate
• benefit
• bolster
• boost
• build up
• cooperate
• develop
• encourage
• endorse
• further
• improve
• popularize
• publicize
• push
• push for
• sell
• soft sell
• speed