please explain

noun

A request for explanation or clarification on an issue.

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Meanings

nounplease explain (plural please explains)

plural please explains

  1. AustraliacolloquialA request for explanation or clarification on an issue.
    1 more example

    2018 "TRIALLED RULE CHANGES WOULD FLY IN THE FACE OF AFL’S MELBOURNE TANKING INVESTIGATION: GREEN" 1116 SEN, 25 July 2018. Accessed 3 August 2018. "If the AFL do decide to trial new rule changes this season, Green believes his former club should present the competition’s hierarchy with a please explain, as they’re seemingly bringing the game into disrepute in a similar way they deemed Melbourne to have done so."

Origin

Likely originated from a 1996 interview with Australian politician Pauline Hanson, in which she replied with the phrase to a question including the word "xenophobic".

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

please explain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/please%20explain

MLA

“please explain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/please%20explain. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “please explain,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/please%20explain.

Source: please explain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.