brunt of responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"brunt of responsibility" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
You might use it when referring to a situation in which someone has a large or overwhelming responsibility. For example, you could say, "The brunt of responsibility for organizing the event fell on me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Foreign companies often end up bearing the brunt of responsibility for local governments' failure to enforce their own laws.

The Economist

Yet Clarke also said that it was the senior players who had to shoulder the brunt of responsibility for failing to press the case when Australia have had the advantage in this series.

Independent

Allardyce should bear the brunt of responsibility for the fact he and the Spaniard have never been friends but he does seem to have mellowed since arriving on Wearside.

The Guardian - Sport

The United States will have to forge plenty of other military alliances in the 21st century: area-specific ones for the Pacific and Indian oceans; and culturally specific ones, namely the core group of Anglo-Saxon nations that have borne the brunt of responsibility in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The New York Times

"They are inevitable for any political force, especially for one which, not for the first year, bears the brunt of responsibility for the situation in the country".

BBC

"Many are middle managers who got stuck this recession with the brunt of responsibility without the perks," says John Gibbons, one of the authors of the report.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But should artists be the only ones to bear the brunt of this responsibility?

The New York Times

They both know who is bearing the brunt of the responsibility for telling the story at any given time.

The Guardian - Film

They are very unhappy with the whole situation, and a lot of people feel that he bears the brunt of the responsibility," he added of the mayor.

The New York Times

In the past, the leaders and military strategists who initiated and oversaw military operations were supposed to shoulder the brunt of existential responsibility.

The New York Times

Regardless of who ends up bearing the brunt of the responsibility for what happened, today's information is unlikely to placate local residents and elected officials.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "brunt of responsibility", clearly define who bears this responsibility and what specific tasks or outcomes it entails. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "brunt of responsibility" carries a slightly formal tone. Using it in overly casual settings might sound out of place. Consider simpler alternatives in informal conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brunt of responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb like 'bear' or 'shoulder'. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used to describe situations where someone carries a significant or overwhelming part of a duty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "brunt of responsibility" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to denote the main impact or heaviest part of an obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples of its usage. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase serves to assign or emphasize accountability. While alternatives like "main burden of accountability" or "principal obligation" exist, "brunt of responsibility" carries a specific connotation of bearing the primary force or impact. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating who bears the responsibility and what specific duties it encompasses. It's also worth noting that, while grammatically correct, it might sound slightly formal in very casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main burden of accountability

Replaces "brunt" with "main burden" and "responsibility" with "accountability", emphasizing the weight and obligation aspects.

major share of liability

Substitutes "brunt" with "major share" and "responsibility" with "liability", shifting the focus to legal or financial obligation.

principal obligation

Replaces the whole phrase with its basic meaning. This alternative is more concise and formal.

primary duty

This alternative is similar to "principal obligation" but uses more common language.

chief accountability

Similar to "principal obligation", but emphasizes the aspect of being held to account.

greatest part of the obligation

This phrase is a more verbose way of expressing a similar idea, focusing on the extent of the obligation.

lion's share of the responsibility

Emphasizes that the biggest part of responsibility falls on someone.

bulk of the obligation

Replaces "brunt" with "bulk", focusing on the size or volume of the obligation.

heavy responsibility

Highlights the weight or difficulty associated with the responsibility.

significant duty

Highlights that the duty is something meaningful.

FAQs

How can I use "brunt of responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "brunt of responsibility" to indicate who is most affected by or has the largest part of a particular responsibility. For example, "The project manager bore the "brunt of responsibility" for the project's success."

What are some alternatives to "brunt of responsibility"?

Alternatives include "main burden of accountability", "major share of liability", or "principal obligation", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "bear the brunt of responsibility" or "take the brunt of responsibility"?

"Bear the brunt of responsibility" is the more common and idiomatic expression. While "take the brunt of responsibility" is understandable, it's less frequently used.

What's the difference between "brunt of responsibility" and "burden of responsibility"?

While both phrases refer to carrying a heavy load, "brunt of responsibility" implies bearing the main impact or force of the responsibility, whereas "burden of responsibility" simply refers to the weight or difficulty associated with it. They can often be used interchangeably, but "brunt" emphasizes impact more than "burden".