Definition of "answer for"

answer for

verb
third-person singular simple present answers for, present participle answering for, simple past and past participle answered for
1. (transitive, intransitive) To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something.
  Quotations
  Oh John, you'll never be a man / And you'll never see your home again / Oh Manchester, so much to answer for
  1984, Morrissey, Johnny Marr (lyrics and music), “Suffer Little Children”, in The Smiths, performed by The Smiths
  Duffy dared to think that Queen Elizabeth I has a few things for which to answer
  2007 September, Wilson D Miscamble, “The Faculty 'Problem'”, in America, volume 197, number 6, page 26
  It’s true Modi has much to answer for. But still there is something disturbing about the fact that India is on track for up to half a million cases a day on some projections, while Britons young enough to have practically zero chance of dying from Covid get vaccinated.
  2021 April 26, Gaby Hinsliff, “Vaccine hoarding is all the more disturbing as a Covid disaster unfolds in India”, in The Guardian‎
2. (transitive) To guarantee.
3. (transitive) To vouch for (someone); to attest to the character of (someone).
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see answer,‎ for.