give an account

give an account

To recount something. We need all witnesses to give an account of what they saw the night of the burglary.
See also: account, give
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

give an account (of someone or something) (to someone)

 and give someone an account of someone or something
to tell a narrative about someone or something to someone. You are going to have to give an account of yourself to your parole officer. Please give an account of your day to my secretary. Give me an account of every minute.
See also: account, give
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • give an account of (someone or something)
  • give an account to (someone)
  • give an account of (someone or something) to (someone)
  • give a good account of
  • give a good account of (oneself)
  • give a good account of oneself
  • give a good account of yourself
  • on no account
  • charge (something) (up) to (something)
  • charge up to
References in periodicals archive
Aim of the conference was to give an account of knowledge in the five CCES research areas and how this knowledge can contribute to solving societal problems.
They claimed following the meeting that Mr Mitchell had refused to give an account of his altercation with officers at the gates of Downing Street in the previous month.
Government has to give an account for the process until May 15, 2013.
"But what's happened thereafter is that she was manipulated or influenced to give an account to blame Sajaad Hussain.
They also give an account of the situation on the ground, some recounting how damaged potato fields were.
Mr Conway was asked to give an account of his experience of the impact the decent homes standard has had on Blyth Valley.
Question: An appropriate anthropology [study of man] is needed fore that takes all this into consideration and that can give an account of the human being in his entirety.
Members are generally required only to profess belief in a Supreme Being who has revealed the moral law and to whom humans must give an account for their actions.
Global AIDS Policy, draws from more than 200 interviews, especially with key political insiders, policymakers and thinkers, to give an account of the red tape that has allowed America to hobble along in its steps to addressing the AIDS crisis.
SIR - The official of Severn River Crossing, a Mr James Rawle, in response to Lembit Opik's questions, failed to give an account of the profit margin his company achieves from road users.
The Bishop of Chester, the writer of this letter and all committed Christians believe one day we will have to give an account of ourselves to God - the Bible is our confidence.
'I started writing them because in a vague way I felt I had a responsibility to give an account for my life, so when the day of judgment comes and God asks what did I do with my life, I can hand Him 50 million words'
In detailing the process of Palestinian political and social transformation, the authors give an account of the emergence and development of capitalism in Palestine since late nineteenth century, and determine that it was one of the causes leading to the colonization and Zionization of the country.