go on record

Idioms and Phrases

Embrace a position publicly. For example, I want to go on record in favor of the mayor's reelection . It is also put as for the record , as in For the record, we support sending troops there . The record in both signifies either publication or public knowledge. Both expressions date from the first half of the 1900s, although slightly different phrases, such as put on record , are older. Also see just for the record ; off the record .