blame down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blame down" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "pass the blame down," which can be used when discussing accountability or responsibility being shifted to someone else. Example: "In the meeting, he tried to blame down the project's failure on his team members instead of taking responsibility himself."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Compound this with constantly being called out in an internal "Trending feedback group", where all Facebook employees – many who don't know the first thing about journalism – can complain about anything we do, while management then shifts the blame down to curators and throws them under the bus.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In evidence to them, the former children's minister Tim Loughton blamed Downing Street for overruling officials in 2012, after the Prime Minister received a letter from Ms Batmanghelidjh.

Independent

Other missiles designed for moving targets use thermal imaging, while the Soviet BUK missile system, which is currently copping the blame for downing MH17, uses a tracking technique called semi-active radar homing.

Vice

Piers Morgan tweeted, in sympathy for Peaches, about any "blame" coming down to Peaches's mother, Paula Yates, who also fatally overdosed in 2000.

The Guardian - Opinion

Blame flashed down the stretch of this stately track as if he were a thunderbolt shot from the fingers of Zeus, winning by a head and earning his fifth consecutive victory.

The New York Times - Sports

The online auction company blamed the down time on problems with one of its servers.

Forbes

Unlike Newgrounds, you don't have to worry about getting blamed (taken down for a low rating), so even if it sucks it will always be there, unless you decide to take it down.

WikiHow

Pro-Russia separatists have been blamed for downing the jet - reportedly with a missile.

BBC

Pro-Russia separatists, who retain control of the crash site in east Ukraine, have been blamed for downing the jet - reportedly with a missile - on 17 July.

BBC

A Russian-supplied anti-aircraft missile was blamed for downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in July, with the loss of 298 lives.

BBC

This includes not just the Buk missile system - blamed for downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 - but also others like Strela for use at lower altitudes and shorter ranges, and a wide range of lighter, shoulder-launched missiles.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the uncommon phrase "blame down", opt for more standard expressions like "shift the blame" or "pass the blame" to clearly convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "blame down" when you mean to convey shifting responsibility to someone of lower status. This phrasing can be unclear; instead, specify who is shifting the blame and to whom, such as "management shifted the blame down to curators".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blame down" is typically used to describe the action of shifting responsibility or fault to someone in a lower position of authority or status. However, Ludwig AI shows that the phrase is not a standard or grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "blame down" is not a standard or grammatically correct English expression. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is rarely used and, when it appears, it often refers to the act of shifting responsibility to someone in a lower position. Instead of using "blame down", it's recommended to opt for more common and clear alternatives such as "shift the blame" or "pass the blame". While some news sources have used variations of this phrase, its infrequent and inconsistent usage suggests it should be avoided in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shift the blame

Focuses on the act of transferring responsibility from one party to another.

pass the buck

Informal term indicating an avoidance of responsibility by assigning it to someone else.

lay the blame

Implies a direct accusation or assignment of fault.

assign responsibility

Neutral term for allocating accountability.

pin the blame

Suggests a focused effort to identify and place fault on a specific individual or group.

attribute fault

Formal way of assigning responsibility for an error or wrongdoing.

hold accountable

Emphasizes the act of making someone answerable for their actions.

place the onus

Highlights the burden of responsibility being put on someone.

saddle with blame

Suggests unfairly burdening someone with responsibility.

cast blame

Indicates a general and sometimes undirected assignment of fault.

FAQs

What does it mean to "shift the blame"?

To "shift the blame" means to avoid taking responsibility for something by attributing the fault to someone else. It's similar to saying someone is trying to "pass the buck".

What are some alternatives to "blame down"?

Since "blame down" is not a standard phrase, consider using more common alternatives like "shift the blame", "pass the blame", or "lay the blame". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say someone is "blaming down"?

No, the phrase "blaming down" is not grammatically correct or commonly used in English. It's better to use phrases like "shifting the blame" or "passing the responsibility".

How can I use "shift the blame" in a sentence?

You could say, "The manager tried to "shift the blame" for the project's failure onto the team." This clearly indicates an attempt to avoid personal responsibility.