bring to book
Make answer for
To bring someone to book is to hold them accountable or make them answer for wrongdoing.
The phrase suggests forcing someone to face judgment, as if summoning them before an official record: The committee finally brought the embezzlers to book.
Chiefly British.
Test of ability
- confrontFace squarely, address directly
- accostApproach someone boldly
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
demand · expose · unmask · cross-examine · scrutinize · address · tackle · call out
Punishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- fineAcceptable in quality
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
correction · chastisement · consequences · retribution · comeuppance · payback · justice · judgment
Judicial examination of claims
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defendantParty facing charges
testimony · evidence · witness · hearing · verdict · conviction · indictment · summons
Obligation to explain oneself
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
- auditFormal accounts examination
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
scrutiny · transparency · compliance · governance · duty · obligation · standards · ethics
challenge
Test of ability
- confrontFace squarely, address directly
- accostApproach someone boldly
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
question · demand · expose · unmask · cross-examine · scrutinize · address · tackle · call out · summon
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- fineAcceptable in quality
discipline · correction · chastisement · consequences · retribution · comeuppance · payback · justice · judgment · reparation
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defendant · testimony · evidence · witness · hearing · verdict · conviction · indictment · summons · warrant
answerability
Obligation to explain oneself
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
- auditFormal accounts examination
oversight · scrutiny · transparency · compliance · governance · duty · obligation · standards · ethics · integrity