cast up one's accounts

present singular third person casts up one's accounts · participle present casting up one's accounts · alternative cast up accounts

1. To come to an accounting; to examine and strike the balance of debt and credit; reckon.

   If a man should cast up his accounts once a week, or once a month, he may not be able to discern that he doth grow rich, and yet he may grow rich.

   2007, J. C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, →ISBN, page 121

   2 more examples

   He was very careful to cast up his accounts every quarter ; which he did, that he might spend neither more nor less than what he could spend every year.

   2005, Benedictus de Spinoza, A Theologico-Political Treatise, and a Political Treatise, →ISBN, page xviii

   EVERY WISE MERCHANT will occasionally hold a stock-taking, when he will cast up his accounts, examine what he has on hand, and ascertain decisively whether his trade is prosperous or declining.

   2008, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Devotional Classics of C. H. Spurgeon, →ISBN, page 18

2. archaicidiomaticTo vomit.

   A foul taste. Vomit. 'Struth! Embarrassing memory flooded back. He'd cast up his accounts in front of a woman.

   2004, Jo Beverley, Secrets of the Night, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   To cast up one's accounts upon excessive drinking ; either, says Cotgrave, because in spewing one makes a noise like a fox that barks, or (from the subject to the effect) because the flaying of so unsavoury a beast will make any one spew.

   1854, François Rabelais, Jacob Le Duchat, John Ozell, The Works of Francis Rabelais - Volume 1, page 134

   As he handed the tray over, he heard the knocker echo through the house. Thinking it might be Jimmy, he turned back to his father to warn him only to see him reach for the chamber pot and cast up his accounts.

   2014, Heather Boyd -, Just a Dream, →ISBN

   She was about to be sick right here in front of them all. That would be the worst humiliation imaginable. Mustn't cast up my accounts, mustn't cast up my accounts.

   2015, Sabrina Jeffries, If the Viscount Falls, →ISBN, page 20