holds to account
Ensures responsibility taken
To hold someone to account is to demand they answer for their actions or responsibilities.
The phrase implies authority or moral standing to require explanation: The committee held the CEO to account for the missing funds.
It suggests consequences may follow if the accounting proves unsatisfactory.
Journalists, oversight bodies, and citizens hold officials to account; parents hold children to account.
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- call outPublicly confront or summon
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- auditingExamining records for accuracy
- open booksPeople easily understood
monitoring · punishment · day of reckoning · duty · liability · face the music · culpability · adjudication · truth commission · reparation · restitution · enforcement · governance · transparency · regulation · sanction · compliance · penalty
holds to accountlets slide
Ignores a fault
excuses · lets off · pardons · turns a blind eye · looks the other way
holds to accountignores
Refuses to acknowledge
overlooks · disregards · neglects · tolerates · permits
holds to accountexonerates
Officially clears of blame
clears · vindicates · acquits · forgives
hold, holds, holding, holder, holders, holdings, behold, beholden, beholder