answer for

British  

verb

1. to be liable or responsible for (a person's actions, behaviour, etc)

2. to vouch for or speak on behalf of (a person)

3. to suffer or atone for (one's wrongdoing)

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answer for Idioms  

1. Take responsibility for, take charge of, as in The new alarm system has to answer for the security of the grounds . [Late 1200s]

2. Take the blame for, as in The kids who were caught shoplifting have a lot to answer for . [c. 1200]

3. To vouch for or sponsor someone, as in I'll answer for John as a reliable employee . [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

But Moore says his boss "always had an answer for everything".

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Etiquette expert Nick Leighton says it’s a hard question to answer for a number of reasons.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

And so, after three hours, I have a sad answer for my cousins.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026

The gold medal final may evolve into a grind, but Team USA appears to have an answer for any question.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

But I had no answer for that quivering question.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx