cast up one's accounts

Verb

cast up one's accounts (third-person singular simple present casts up one's accounts, present participle casting up one's accounts, simple past and past participle cast up one's accounts)

1. To come to an accounting; to examine and strike the balance of debt and credit; reckon.
   • He was very careful to cast up his accounts every quarter ; which he did, that he might spend neither more nor less than what he could spend every year.2005, Benedictus de Spinoza, A Theologico-Political Treatise, and a Political Treatise, →ISBN, page xviii
   • If a man should cast up his accounts once a week, or once a month, he may not be able to discern that he doth grow rich, and yet he may grow rich.2007, J. C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, →ISBN, page 121
2. (archaic, idiomatic) To vomit.
   • To cast up one's accounts upon excessive drinking ; either, says Cotgrave, because in spewing one makes a noise like a fox that barks, or (from the subject to the effect) because the flaying of so unsavoury a beast will make any one spew.1854, François Rabelais, Jacob Le Duchat, John Ozell, The Works of Francis Rabelais - Volume 1, page 134
   • A foul taste. Vomit. 'Struth! Embarrassing memory flooded back. He'd cast up his accounts in front of a woman.2004, Jo Beverley, Secrets of the Night, →ISBN