holding to account
Requiring an explanation
Holding to account is the act of demanding that someone answer for their actions, decisions, or responsibilities.
It implies an expectation that the person explain themselves and face consequences if they've fallen short.
The phrase appears frequently in political and institutional contexts: Voters are responsible for holding their elected officials to account.
Unlike simply blaming someone, holding to account suggests a formal or moral right to require justification.
- penaltiesPunishments for infractions
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- auditingExamining records for accuracy
paper trail · whistleblowing · calling out · naming and shaming · justice · legal recourse · compliance · sanctions · governance · restitution · reprimand · answerability · responsibility · taking responsibility · reckoning · liability · transparency · reporting
holding to accountletting slide
Choosing to ignore
looking the other way · turning a blind eye · sweeping under the rug · letting go · overlooking
holding to accountforgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
pardoning · absolving · exonerating · condoning · letting bygones be bygones
hold, holding, holder, holders, beholden, behold, account, accounts, accounting