To account for
Example: Please account for all expenses on the report.
Definition
"Account for" means to explain or justify the reasons, causes, or details of something, often in a context where clarity or responsibility is required. For example, it involves providing an explanation for expenses or actions to ensure transparency or understanding.
Etymology
The phrase "account for" originates from the Old French word 'acont' meaning a reckoning or narrative, combined with 'for,' indicating purpose or reason. It evolved to mean the act of giving an explanation or reckoning for something. Did you know? Originally, 'account' was closely tied to bookkeeping and financial records before broadening to general explanations.
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"To account for" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B2) - set 1", containing 103 commonly used expressions.
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