answer to
Have to explain yourself to someone because they are in charge of you, or to be known by a certain name.
Meanings
To be under the authority of someone and have to explain your actions to them.
"As regional manager, she answers directly to the vice president."
To respond to or be known by a particular name.
"Our cat answers to the name 'Whiskers', but only when she feels like it."
To match a description, especially of a suspect or person being sought.
"Police are looking for a man who answers to the description of a tall, bearded individual in his forties."
Has two main uses: (1) hierarchy/accountability ('answer to the CEO') and (2) name/description ('the dog answers to Buster'). The accountability sense is very common in workplace contexts. The name sense is common in informal or humorous contexts.
Commonly used with
Forms
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