the buck stops here

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

responsibility rests with the speaker, not to be passed on

Why this phrase?

'Buck' is a marker passed from player to player in poker, indicating whose turn it is; stopping it means refusing to pass the responsibility on.

Example

“I run this department, and the buck stops here.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

pave the way Neutral · CEFR B1

to make it easier for something else to happen or develop

face the music Neutral · CEFR B2

To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.

foot the bill Neutral · CEFR B2

To pay for something, especially something expensive.

it takes two to tango Neutral · CEFR B2

both parties are responsible for a situation

off the hook Informal · CEFR B2

freed from blame, responsibility, or an unpleasant obligation

on one's hands Neutral · CEFR B2

as one's responsibility or problem to deal with

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.

markdown