cannot be pinned on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be pinned on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that blame or responsibility cannot be attributed to someone or something. Example: "The failure of the project cannot be pinned on any single team member; it was a collective oversight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Part of the reason why bee colony loss, which first began to cause concern in 2006, when scientists noticed rapid rates of adult bee loss, has persisted over the years is that the problem cannot be pinned on any one single cause.

The Washington Post

Finally, the analysed drilling sites were dotted more or less randomly around the Marcellus so the contamination cannot be pinned on a clutch of rule-breaking wells.

The Economist

Even if you believe America has suffered from a shortfall of demand in the past five years, surely the blame cannot be pinned on the Iraq war.

The Economist

Blame for the Revs' poor form over the latter part of the summer certainly cannot be pinned on Kamara, but for whatever reason it's not working for the Foxborough side with the Sierra Leone international leading their attacking line.

The Guardian - Sport

Most Americans believe that Lindh and Hanssen are each sui generis -- anomalous case studies that cannot be pinned on any particular cultural influence, family constellation, religion or sexual history.

The New York Times - Magazine

This focus on deepening the European Union may have delayed the entry of new member nations from Eastern Europe, it is true, but that cannot be pinned on German reunification.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some losses--maybe this flood--cannot be pinned on the landlord.

Los Angeles Times

Responsibility for the mentoring moment, though, cannot be pinned squarely on this one executive's lapel.

The New York Times - Style

Hollande's plans to hit the rich have been blamed for recent tax defections – even though the Elysée claims the 75% band is a temporary measure and will affect only 3,000 of the wealthiest families – but the exodus cannot be pinned entirely on the Socialist president.

The Guardian

In his doomy worldview, as in TS Eliot's, subjectivity cannot be pinned down with accuracy.

The Guardian - Books

On the other hand, "neither individual nor trans-individual" refers to a person who cannot be pinned down or delimited by linguistic means.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be pinned on", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is not being blamed or held responsible. For example, "The project's failure cannot be pinned on one individual; it was a team effort."

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be pinned on" in situations where the responsibility is genuinely unclear. Be precise in stating what the blame cannot be attributed to, to avoid confusion. For example, instead of saying "Mistakes were made and blame cannot be pinned on anyone", specify, "Mistakes were made and the blame cannot be pinned on the junior staff".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be pinned on" functions as a predicate within a sentence, specifically to deny or negate the assignment of blame or responsibility. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it's grammatically correct. It usually connects a subject (the thing or person not to blame) with the reason that it isn't the one in charge.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cannot be pinned on" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered expression used to indicate that blame or responsibility cannot be assigned to a specific person or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. While "cannot be pinned on" appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it is also applicable in science and formal business settings. Alternatives such as "cannot be attributed to" and "cannot be blamed on" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When utilizing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what or who is not being held responsible to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be attributed to

Focuses on the lack of direct causation or association.

cannot be blamed on

Directly addresses the inability to assign fault.

cannot be held responsible for

Emphasizes the lack of accountability.

responsibility cannot be assigned to

Highlights the difficulty in allocating accountability.

cannot be ascribed to

Focuses on the inability to attribute a cause or characteristic.

cannot be laid at the door of

An idiomatic alternative, suggesting blame cannot be directly placed.

cannot be chalked up to

Informal way of saying something cannot be attributed to a specific cause.

is not attributable to

A more formal way of expressing that something is not caused by a specific factor.

lies beyond the scope of

Indicates that something is outside the realm of responsibility.

is not down to

A more informal way of indicating that something is not someone's fault.

FAQs

What does "cannot be pinned on" mean?

The phrase "cannot be pinned on" means that blame or responsibility for something cannot be definitively assigned to a particular person or thing. It suggests that the cause is either unknown, shared, or too complex to attribute to a single source.

How can I use "cannot be pinned on" in a sentence?

You can use "cannot be pinned on" to express that someone or something is not solely responsible for a particular outcome. For example, "The team's loss cannot be pinned on the quarterback alone; there were several contributing factors."

What are some alternatives to "cannot be pinned on"?

Some alternatives to "cannot be pinned on" include phrases like "cannot be attributed to", "cannot be blamed on", or "cannot be held responsible for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "cannot be blamed on" or "cannot be pinned on"?

Both "cannot be blamed on" and "cannot be pinned on" are acceptable, but "cannot be pinned on" is slightly more idiomatic. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context. They essentially convey the same meaning: that blame or fault cannot be assigned to a specific entity.