held to account
Forced to answer
Held to account means made to answer for one's actions or decisions, especially when something has gone wrong.
The phrase implies responsibility and consequences—someone in authority must explain themselves and potentially face penalties: The CEO was held to account for the company's financial losses.
Often used in political and corporate contexts where transparency is expected.
- answerableLiable to account
- justifyProvide adequate grounds for
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- buck stops hereAccepting ultimate responsibility
- on the hookBearing responsibility for something
blame · scrutinized · under the microscope · culpable · face the music · liability · chargeable · reckoning · day of reckoning · punishment · pay the price · enforcement · sanction · obligation · restitution · amenable · reparation · duty
held to accountlet off
Freed from blame
let off the hook · excused · absolved · pardoned · exonerated
held to accountunaccountable
Not required to justify
unscrutinized · unchecked · unquestioned · untouchable · above the law
held, account, holding, holdings, holder, holders, behold, beholden, beheld