Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to-pass-the-buck
idiom
/tə ˈpɑːs ðə bʌk/
Definition
To avoid responsibility by shifting it to someone else.
Examples
- The manager tried to pass the buck when the project failed, blaming it on his team.
- Instead of solving the problem, she just passed the buck to her assistant.
- He refused to pass the buck and accepted full responsibility for the mistake.
Meaning
This phrase means that someone is not taking accountability for a situation and is instead transferring the obligation or blame to another person.
Synonyms
- shift responsibility
- avoid blame
- delegate blame
- evade responsibility
