testify

testify against (someone or something)

To present evidence or testimony against someone or something as a witness in a trial. I refused to testify against the mob boss unless the police were able to guarantee the safety of my family. Spouses cannot be made to testify against one another.
See also: testify

testify for (someone or something)

To present evidence or testimony in favor or defense of someone or something as a witness in a trial. The doctor was asked to testify for the plaintiff in the criminal negligence lawsuit against the construction company. I agreed to testify for Daniel, since I was with him the night of the incident.
See also: testify

testify to (something)

To give sworn testimony that something is true. The doctor was asked to testify to the extent of the plaintiff's injuries in the criminal negligence lawsuit against the construction company. I was happy to testify for Daniel's whereabouts on the evening in question, as I had been with him the whole night.
See also: testify
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

testify against someone or something

to be a witness against someone or something. Who will testify against him in court? I cannot testify against the company I work for.
See also: testify

testify for someone

to present evidence in favor of someone; to testify on someone's behalf. I agreed to testify for her at the trial. Max testified for Lefty, but they were both convicted.
See also: testify

testify to something

to swear to something. I will testify to your whereabouts if you wish. I think I know what happened, but I would not testify to it.
See also: testify
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

testify to

v.
1. To make a statement based on personal knowledge in support of some asserted fact; bear witness to something: Many astronauts have testified to the thrill of weightlessness. The witness testified to the accuracy of the defendant's story.
2. To serve as evidence: The wreckage testifies to the strength of the storm.
See also: testify
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • get up against
  • get up against (someone or something)
  • clash
  • clash against
  • clash against (someone or something)
  • build a case against (someone or something)
  • against
  • against (someone or something)
  • gather a case against (someone or something)
  • fortify (someone or something) against (something) with (something)
References in periodicals archive
Kehinde argued that the witness had been the INEC returning officer who was critically involved in the election and urged the tribunal to allow him to testify.
Oyo Governorship: Tribunal Disallows INEC's Witness From Testifying
Kamala Harris of California, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called Barr's press conference "a stunt, filled with political spin and propaganda" and asked for Mueller to testify.
Democrats And Republicans React To Barr, Mueller
Aside from Atar, Jerome Succor Aba, chairman of militant group Suara Bangsamoro, would testify on his allegation that he suffered religious discrimination, arbitrary detention and torture in the hands of the US Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Patrol.
Sister Patricia Fox testifies vs Duterte gov't before int'l tribunal
But if he were subpoenaed and did not want to testify, Trump could always invoke his constitutional right not to testify against himself and decline to answer questions.
Can a sitting president be forced to testify?
[USA], Aug 8 ( ANI ): 'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi took the witness stand in a federal trial to testify her frightening encounter with the angry Teamster union members.
'Top Chef' trial: Padma Lakshmi testifies that Teamsters 'threatened' her
They asked our credit union to testify because they knew I had some expertise in the area."
6 Realities of Testifying Before Congress
But Murphy's trial lawyers were not told that two of those witnesses had been threatened with prosecution for murder or conspiracy if they did not testify to Murphy's guilt, his lawyers now claim.
Texas Appeals Court Stays Julius Murphy Execution
28, GE-l stated he would instruct his lawyers to ask for a date to testify in the case.
Former President GE-l testifies to prosecutors in 'lost trillion case'
Prosecutors evaluate a number of strategic considerations in selecting a particular witness to testify in the grand jury.
The company's guide to responding effectively to a federal grand jury subpoena (Part 2)
Crabtree, who is now 19, is expected to testify against Taylor at some point during his trial, which continues today.
Murder victim's last hours revealed
According to the Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News & Guide, federal prosecutors have dropped their request to force a Wyoming newspaper reporter to testify about her interview with a bank robbery suspect, Prosecutors had subpoenaed News & Guide reporter Emma Breysse to testify about her interview with Corey Allan Donaldson.
Wyoming prosecutors drop subpoena
Joseph Lease's Testify is a rare and harrowing meditation on the breaking point of the American project.
Testify
ISTANBUL, February 20, 2012(A.A) - Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office with Special Authority said on Monday that it would withdraw an instruction sent to Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office to testify the undersecretary of National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
Turkish chief prosecutor's office to withdraw demand to testify MIT undersecretary
Suggestions include using an all-female court or requiring a witness to wear a thinner niqab that better allows the court to "assess her demeanour." The judges added, however, "If, in the specific circumstances, the accused's fair trial right can be honoured only by requiring the witness to remove the niqab, the niqab must be removed if the witness is to testify."
Canadian court on face veils
Last year, the Illinois Supreme Court held that absent extraordinary circumstances, trial judges should rule on motions in limine in criminal cases before the trial begins and not defer ruling until after the defendants testify. People v Patrick, 233 Ill 2d 62, 908 NE2d 1 (2009).
Averett a win for prosecutors: the Illinois high court rules that it isn't reversible error for a trial court to defer ruling on motions in limine to exclude prior convictions unless defendants testify - and that's bad news for defendants who choose not to testify