When we didn't understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself.
When Jack brought Mary home at three o'clock in the morning, her father asked him to explain himself.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
explain oneself — {v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. * /When we didn t understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself./ 2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. * /When Jack brought … Dictionary of American idioms
explain oneself — {v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning plainer; make your first statement clear. * /When we didn t understand Fritz, he went on to explain himself./ 2. To give a good reason for something you did or failed to do which seems wrong. * /When Jack brought … Dictionary of American idioms
explain oneself — phrasal : to make clear the meaning of one s statements or the reasons for one s conduct * * * expand on what one has said in order to make one s meaning clear ■ give an account of one s motives or conduct in order to excuse or justify oneself he … Useful english dictionary
explain oneself — give information about oneself, account for one s behavior or actions, make oneself understandable, express oneself … English contemporary dictionary
explain oneself — excuse or justify one s behaviour. → explain … English new terms dictionary
explain oneself — phrasal to clarify one s statements or the reasons for one s conduct … New Collegiate Dictionary
explain — [ek splān′, iksplān′] vt. [ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex , out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see PLANE2): sp. infl. by PLAIN1] 1. to make clear, plain, or understandable 2. to give the meaning or interpretation… … English World dictionary
explain — ► VERB 1) make clear by giving a detailed description. 2) give a reason or justification for. 3) (explain oneself) excuse or justify one s motives or conduct. 4) (explain away) minimize the significance of (something awkward) by giving an excuse… … English terms dictionary
explain — v.tr. 1 make clear or intelligible with detailed information etc. (also absol. : let me explain). 2 (foll. by that + clause) say by way of explanation. 3 account for (one s conduct etc.). Phrases and idioms: explain away minimize the significance … Useful english dictionary
explain — verb 1》 make (something) clear by providing more detail. 2》 give a reason or justification for. ↘(explain oneself) excuse or justify one s behaviour. ↘(explain something away) minimize the significance of something embarrassing by giving… … English new terms dictionary
