settle accounts; liquidate; settle scores
Meanings
2 senses · 8 examplesverb
to settle accounts; to clear accounts; to calculate thoroughly
Commonly used in business, accounting, and financial contexts to refer to the settlement of debts, assets, or accounts.
We need to settle all accounts by the end of the year.
The accountant is liquidating the company's assets.
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This transaction needs to be settled immediately.
The bank settles the day's accounts every day.
verb
to settle scores; to bring to account; to investigate and punish (crimes or errors)
formalOften used in political, historical, or legal contexts to refer to holding someone accountable for past crimes, errors, or debts (figurative). Can imply a purge or persecution.
We must settle old historical scores.
The new government began to investigate and punish the corruption of the previous regime.
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We must thoroughly account for the crimes of the local tyrant.
This is not a personal grudge, but a settling of accounts with the erroneous line.