English idiom

pass the buck

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

avoid accountability by shifting responsibility or blame to another person

Word picture

Responsibility is pictured as a small object handed from one person to another so nobody keeps hold of it.

Example

“Instead of fixing the scheduling mistake, each manager tried to pass the buck.”

Dictionary details

Component words

pass buck

Tags

failure
work

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

pass muster

to be judged good enough after an examination or review

bang for your buck

the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent

carry the can

To take the blame or responsibility for a problem, especially when others avoid doing so.

call it a day

To decide to stop working on something for now.

do the job

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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