answer for

Verb

1. To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something.
   • The mayor will be answering for his crimes for many years.
   • Oh John, you'll never be a man / And you'll never see your home again / Oh Manchester, so much to answer for - 1984, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, “Suffer Little Children”, in The Smiths, performed by The Smiths:
   • Duffy dared to think that Queen Elizabeth I has a few things for which to answer - 2007 September, Wilson D Miscamble, “The Faculty 'Problem'”, in America, volume 197, number 6, page 26:
2. To guarantee.
   • I will answer for his debt, if he can't pay on the day.
3. To vouch for (someone); to attest to the character of (someone).
   • She's known me for years, and she's always answered for me!
4. 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.