have a lot to answer for
have a lot to answer for
To be in a position to accept responsibility or be questioned or punished for having behaved poorly, unscrupulously, or recklessly. Now that he's been caught, the thief has a lot to answer for. The tech firm has a lot to answer for since their network has been found to have contributed to the breach.
See also: answer, have, lot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have a lot to answer for
COMMON If someone or something has a lot to answer for, they are responsible for something bad that has happened. My God, his mother's got a lot to answer for! She waited on him all her life. Every word of this conversation would be sent within minutes to her close friends — mobiles and e-mail have a lot to answer for.
See also: answer, have, lot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- see the error of (one's) ways
- see the error of your ways
- take the shirt off (one's) back
- have the shirt off (one's) back
- skeevy
- credit
- credit to
- a credit to (someone or something)
- like a blind dog in a meat market