sound defensive

have no wiggle room to〈米俗〉

give only excuses and apologies

No explanation required.

demand an explanation

call for clarification

lack of accountability

be held accountable （for）

in explanation （of）

render an account （of）

demand a clarification of

explain the alleged cancellation of one's meeting with

give someone the chance to explain

call ［bring］ someone to account

hold someone accountable for

explain one's stance （on）

（2） The Prime Minister shall, when he/she intends to refuse an application for registration pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, notify the Applicant thereof in advance and require the appearance of the Applicant or his/her representative at an opinion hearing to be held by an official designated by the Prime Minister in order to provide an opportunity to submit any further evidence in support of the application.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

（2） The Prime Minister shall, when he/she intends to refuse an application for registration pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, notify the Applicant thereof in advance and require the appearance of the Applicant or his/her representative at an opinion hearing to be held by an official designated by the Prime Minister in order to provide an opportunity to produce any further evidence in support of the application.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

（2） The provision of the preceding paragraph shall also apply where a party does not give the necessary explanation with regard to his/her allegations or evidence whose import is unclear, or does not appear on the date for giving explanation.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

（3） A person concerned in the case may request that the presiding judge ask questions in order to obtain clarification.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

（5） If the competent minister finds that an application for the permission under Article 9 fails to conform to any of the items of paragraph （1） or that it falls under any of the items of paragraph （2）, he/she shall notify the applicant to that effect in advance, seek to have the applicant or an agent thereof appear, and have officials of the ministry hear the opinions of such person in order to give such person an opportunity for producing evidence for explanation.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

You may want to add a little more explanation like: "I didn't mean to say that, or I didn't intend for it to come out that way."〔【出典】Hiragana Times, 2003年11月号◆【出版社】株式会社ヤック企画 〕"HT205022", "2577097"

"The National People's Congress has within its powers the ability to lead the way in calling for an account of all those who died, those who were imprisoned and those who remain in prison still as a result of the crackdown," said Amnesty International in an open letter sent to Wu Bangguo, the Chairman of the National People's Congress of China, on 13 May 2009.〔【出典】アムネスティ発表国際ニュース（2009年6月2日） 〕

take this opportunity to explain

and I wish to hear these priests admit, in their turn, what they were going to do at the pagoda of Pillaji."〔【出典】日英対訳文・対応付けデータ（独立行政法人情報通信研究機構）〕"_WORLD15", "2584339"

Amnesty International drew a number of incidents to the attention of the Israeli authorities who have not responded to the organization's repeated requests for clarification on specific incidents.〔【出典】アムネスティ発表国際ニュース（2010年2月2日） 〕

provide a clarification of the Echelon project

insufficient excuse

（iv） the clarification of an ambiguous statement （limited to the matters stated in the reasons for refusal in the notice of reasons for refusal）.〔【出典】日本法令外国語訳データベースシステム 〕

Although described by the President as aiming to bring order rather than restrictions into the activities of NGOs, Amnesty International believes that the law instead undermines their work by giving the authorities increased powers of scrutiny of the funding and activities of Russian and foreign NGOs.〔【出典】アムネスティ発表国際ニュース（2006年7月5日） 〕

The general was answerable to the president alone.

explain away the books

bring the authorities to account

He explained at the news conference that there would be no need for him to touch on "the people's consensus" at a place such as the United Nations.〔【出典】日英新聞記事対応付けデータ（独立行政法人情報通信研究機構）〕

She refuses to give me a chance to explain, talk or even apologize if necessary.〔【出典】Hiragana Times, 1996年3月号◆【出版社】株式会社ヤック企画 〕"HT113036", "2444217"

have some explaining to do

remorseful apology

his eyes gleaming with joy, the letters of remonstrance, the prayers for a little delay, the representations of the certain ruin in which the opposite party must be involved, which poured in, as suit after suit, and process after process, was commenced.〔【出典】日英対訳文・対応付けデータ（独立行政法人情報通信研究機構）〕"_CLIEN", "2593770"

government explanation

render an account of one's conduct

excuse for irresponsible action

explain away the situation

The governor explained he was just joking."MB001928", "2487253"

Members of my staff are answerable to me for their conduct.