attempting to deflect responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempting to deflect responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's efforts to avoid accountability for their actions or decisions. Example: "In the meeting, she was attempting to deflect responsibility for the project's failure by blaming external factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kevin Spacey's response to the allegations he's facing, which attempted to deflect responsibility by coming out of the closet, was immediately met with incredulous gaping; was Spacey really doing this?

HuffPost

Ms. Mindel said in response: "This is a typical Clinton attempt to deflect responsibility.

The New York Times

Now, he says, those interviews were planned attempts to deflect responsibility from Muhammad.

The Washington Post

Wigdor said: "The motion is an obvious attempt to deflect responsibility and we are confident that Uber will ultimately be held accountable for its actions".

The Guardian - Tech

Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, suggested that the mayor's gun control statements were an attempt to deflect responsibility for local safety away from his administration and the criminal justice system.

The New York Times

The criticism of the government's performance has provoked infighting, with rival agencies privately pointing at one another and some intelligence officials complaining about what they see as a White House attempt to deflect responsibility.

The New York Times

That Strachan also tried to implicate Matt Messias, making his Premiership debut as a referee, in his side's defeat smacked of an attempt to deflect responsibility for the mess Coventry are in.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is time for Mr. Silver to stop his attempts to deflect responsibility for his and the Assembly's own misconduct and to take a good, hard look in the mirror at the actual events that really occurred," she said on Friday, expressing particular frustration about an article in The New York Post that publicized the names of the women involved in the settlement.

The New York Times

In what appeared to be an attempt to deflect responsibility, the Honduran ambassador to the United States, Marlon Tábora Muñoz, sent Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, a video in which young men handed out single bills of currency to migrants standing in line.

The New York Times

Yet Chevron Corporation has been sued (unsuccessfully everwhere, except for the fraudulent judgment inside Ecuador) in a desperate attempt to deflect responsibility.

Forbes

Falih's comments were likely to be seen by the kingdom's critics as an attempt to deflect responsibility for the incident: Safety during hajj is politically sensitive for the kingdom's ruling Al Saud dynasty, as the ruling family presents itself internationally as the guardian of orthodox Islam and custodian of its holiest places in Mecca and Medina.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of the phrase is clearly identified. For example, specify who is "attempting to deflect responsibility" and from what.

Common error

While "attempting to deflect responsibility" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or accusatory in casual conversation. Opt for simpler, more direct language like "trying to avoid blame" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempting to deflect responsibility" functions as a verbal phrase describing an action or process. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating someone's active effort to evade accountability. Ludwig shows its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attempting to deflect responsibility" serves to illustrate an active and ongoing effort to avoid accountability. While grammatically sound, as Ludwig AI confirms, its usage frequency is currently low in the provided data. The phrase tends to appear in formal contexts such as news and media, where it conveys a critical perspective on the subject's actions. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is attempting the deflection and from what, and consider opting for simpler language in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to evade accountability

Focuses on evading accountability rather than specifically deflecting responsibility.

seeking to shift blame

Highlights the act of shifting blame away from oneself.

aiming to avoid culpability

Emphasizes the avoidance of guilt or blame.

endeavoring to sidestep accountability

Uses "sidestep" to suggest avoiding accountability.

working to divert attention from accountability

Focuses on diverting attention away from accountability.

striving to pass the buck

Employs an idiomatic expression for shifting responsibility.

making an effort to disclaim liability

Highlights the disclaiming of legal or moral liability.

taking steps to evade ownership

Underscores the evasion of ownership of a situation or problem.

planning to steer clear of liability

Uses "steer clear" to indicate avoiding liability.

intending to shrug off responsibility

Uses "shrug off" to convey a casual avoidance of responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "attempting to deflect responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "attempting to deflect responsibility" to describe someone trying to avoid blame for a mistake. For example, "The politician was attempting to deflect responsibility for the scandal by blaming his staff."

What are some alternatives to "attempting to deflect responsibility"?

Some alternatives include "trying to shift blame", "seeking to avoid accountability", or "evading accountability".

Is it better to say "attempting to deflect responsibility" or "trying to avoid blame"?

"Attempting to deflect responsibility" is more formal and emphasizes an active effort to avoid accountability. "Trying to avoid blame" is simpler and more suitable for informal contexts. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "attempting to deflect responsibility" and "accepting responsibility"?

"Attempting to deflect responsibility" implies someone is trying to avoid being held accountable for something, while "accepting responsibility" means acknowledging and taking ownership of one's actions and their consequences.