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3. call to account

call to account

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call someone to account

to ask one to explain and justify one's behavior, policy, performance, etc. The sergeant called the police officer to account. I called my workers to account for the accident.

See also: account, call

call to account

(slightly formal)

to be forced to accept responsibility for something Davis published top-secret government information, but he was never called to account for this.

See also: account, call

call to account

1. Hold answerable, as in One day soon we'll be called to account for the child's behavior: [Mid-1500s]

2. Challenge or contest, as in The IRS is bound to call us to account on these deductions. [First half of 1800s]

See also: account, call

call to account

1. To challenge or contest.

2. To hold answerable for.

See also: account, call