answer

answer someone's purpose and serve someone's purpose

to fit or suit someone's aim or goal. This piece of wood will answer my purpose quite nicely. The new car serves our purpose perfectly.

See also: purpose

answer back (to someone) and answer someone back

to talk back (to someone); to argue (with someone). (Fixed phrase.) I wish you wouldn't answer back to me that way. Please don't answer me back like that! Don't answer backer I'll ground you for a week!

See also: back

answer for someone or something

Fig. to explain or justify the actions of someone or some act; to take responsibility or blame for someone or something. You will have to answer for your children's bad behavior. I will answer only for my own misdeeds.

answer for someone 

1. Lit. to speak for another person. I can't answer for Chuck, but I do have my own opinion. I will answer for my friend in his absence.

2. Fig. to vouch for someone; to tell of the goodness of someone's character. Mr. Jones, who had known the girl all her life, answered for her. He knew she was innocent. I will answer for Ted. He could not hurt a flea.

answer the call 

1. Euph. to die. Our dear brother answered the call and has gone to his eternal rest.

2. answer the call (of nature) Euph. to find and use the toilet. We stopped the car long enough for Jed to answer the call of nature. You had better answer the call of nature when you feel it coming.

See also: call

answer the door

Fig. [after hearing the doorbell or a knock] to go to the door to see who is there. Would you please answer the door. I am busy. I wish someone would answer the door. I can't stand to hear the knocking.

See also: door

answer to someone 

1. Fig. to explain or justify one's actions to someone. (Usually with have to.) If John cannot behave properly, he'll have to answer to me. The car thief will have to answer to the judge.

2. Fig. [in the hierarchy of the workplace] to be under the supervision of someone; to report to someone. (See also report to (someone or something).) You will answer directly to Mr. Wright. I answer only to the boss.

answer to the description of someone

Fig. to match a particular set of physical or facial characteristics. Chuck answers to the description his sister gave us. The man in police custody answers to the description of the burglar.

See also: description

answer to the name (of) something

to respond to a particular name. I answer to the name Walter. She answers to the name of Claire.

See also: name

not take no for an answer

Fig. not to accept someone's refusal. (A polite way of being insistent.) Now, you must drop over and see us tomorrow. We won't take no for an answer. I had to go to their party. They just wouldn't take no for an answer.

See also: take

pat answer

a quick, easy answer; a simplified or evasive answer. Don't just give them a pat answer. Give some more explanation and justification. Otherwise you will just end up answering a lot more questions.

See also: pat

soft answer turneth away wrath

Prov. If you speak softly and meekly to someone who is angry with you, that person will calm down. (Biblical.) It won't do any good for you to yell at John because he yelled at you. Remember that a soft answer turneth away wrath.

See also: away, soft

---

not take no for an answer

if someone will not take no for an answer, they continue asking for something although their request has already been refused I've told her again and again that you're too busy to see her, but she won't take no for an answer.

See also: take

somebody's answer to somebody/something

someone or something that is just as good as a more famous person or thing in the place where it comes from The Kennedy clan was America's answer to the royal families of Europe.

answer the call of nature  (humorous)

to urinate (= pass liquid from the body) I had to go into the woods to answer the call of nature.

See also: call, nature

have a lot to answer for

to be the main cause of a problem or an unpleasant situation People who sell drugs to kids have a lot to answer for.

See also: have, lot

the answer to somebody's prayers

someone or something that someone has needed very much for a long time A new supermarket delivery service was the answer to my prayers.

See have a lot to answer for

See also: prayer

---

somebody's answer to somebody/something

something intended to be as good as another similar person or thing The European Film Awards are Europe's answer to the Academy Awards.

answer for something

to admit responsibility for causing a problem or situation He may not go to jail, but someday he is going to have to answer for what he did before God. If you mix art and politics critics get upset and you have to answer for it.

Related vocabulary: have a lot to answer for

answer to somebody

to be responsible to someone else If you own your own company, you do not have to answer to stockholders.

have a lot to answer for

to have much of the responsibility for a situation The owners forced a strike, but the workers have a lot to answer for, too.

Related vocabulary: answer for something

See also: have, lot

have all the answers also know all the answers

to be ready with all the available information about something There's one kid in my class who always has her hand up and always has all the answers. I don't know what can be done - I don't have all the answers, but I do have a lot of questions.

Usage notes: often used to describe someone who wants other people to recognize their intelligence: I used to date someone who had all the answers, and he was such a bore.

See also: have

not take no for an answer

to be unwilling to accept a refusal She sent faxes, made phone calls, sent e-mail - she just wouldn't take no for an answer.

See also: take

the answer to your prayers

exactly what is needed or wanted These new artificial hearts are amazing, but are they the answer to our prayers?

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form the answer to something's prayers: Each new technology has been introduced as the answer to education's prayers.

See also: prayer