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)

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

Betsie was always very clear about the answer for her and me.

From Literature

Mutti answered for me then, and I was glad she did because I had no answer to give him.

From Literature

Russell pushed on trying to close the gap, but his own fastest lap was answered by one from Antonelli, underlining that the youngster had an answer for everything Russell could throw at him.

From BBC

And as the virus continues to circulate, more people are being forced to reckon with a life-altering yet often invisible disability whose relative newness offers few answers for the future and few avenues for support.

From Los Angeles Times

“They killed us inside — we had no answer for their big man. Their matchup zone gave us problems. We couldn’t figure out and we got stagnant.”

From Los Angeles Times