hold to account
Require an explanation
To hold someone to account is to demand they answer for their actions or decisions, especially when something has gone wrong.
The phrase implies responsibility and consequences: Voters will hold the administration to account for its handling of the crisis.
Often used in contexts of governance, management, or institutional oversight where someone has authority and must justify how they've used it.
- take to taskCriticize for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- point the fingerAccuse someone of wrongdoing
- answer forBe responsible for
own up to · answerability · scrutiny · bring to justice · liability · call out · name and shame · reckoning · oversight · obligation · in the hot seat · under the microscope · restitution · face the music · compliance · on the hook · stewardship · enforcement
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
hold to accountlet slide
Choose not to address
let off the hook · look the other way · turn a blind eye · let off · excuse
hold to accountignore
Refuse to notice
neglect · disregard · overlook · rubber-stamp · turn a blind eye
hold, account, holds, holding, holder, holders, holdings, behold, beholden