have to say for oneself

verb

Used with other words to show that someone lacks an explanation for what he or she is doing or has done.

“Your teacher told me that you vandalized a library book today. I am very disappointed in you. What do you have to say for yourself? Now I don't know if I can trust you around library books.”

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Meanings

verbhave to say for oneself (third-person singular simple present has to say for oneself, present participle having to say for oneself, simple past and past participle had to say for oneself)

present singular third person has to say for oneself · participle present having to say for oneself · participle past had to say for oneself · past had to say for oneself

  1. Used with other words to show that someone lacks an explanation for what he or she is doing or has done.

    Your teacher told me that you vandalized a library book today. I am very disappointed in you. What do you have to say for yourself? Now I don't know if I can trust you around library books.

Cite this entry
APA

have to say for oneself. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20to%20say%20for%20oneself

MLA

“have to say for oneself.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20to%20say%20for%20oneself. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have to say for oneself,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20to%20say%20for%20oneself.

Source: have to say for oneself on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.