have a lot to answer for
idiom
: to be responsible for many bad things that have happened
The company executives have a lot to answer for.
Examples of have a lot to answer for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The spreaders of the Big Lie have a lot to answer for and they should all be held accountable.
—
Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2022
Businesses are going to be questioned more and more on their short-term, measurable targets and those that don’t have their story straight will have a lot to answer for.
—Alliance Manchester Business School, Forbes, 24 June 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2022
Businesses are going to be questioned more and more on their short-term, measurable targets and those that don’t have their story straight will have a lot to answer for.
—Alliance Manchester Business School, Forbes, 24 June 2021
Dictionary Entries Near have a lot to answer for
have a lot to answer for
Cite this Entry
“Have a lot to answer for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20lot%20to%20answer%20for. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share