deflect responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'deflect responsibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to talk about a person's attempt to avoid taking responsibility for an action or situation. For example: The politician tried to deflect responsibility for the economic crisis by blaming the previous government.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

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

Mr. King was quick to deflect responsibility.

The New York Times

At News International, Mr. Murdoch's British newspaper arm, executives scrambled to deflect responsibility.

The New York Times

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

The Washington Post

Mr. Trump seemed to try to deflect responsibility away from Moscow.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

We use China just as we use the population issue: as a means of deflecting responsibility.

The Guardian

This is the latest example of Mr. Bush's pattern of deflecting responsibility.

The New York Times

Meanwhile it deflects responsibility to government or to coal companies, to distract from its own extraction of oil and gas.

The Guardian - Business

Interviewed later as he prepared to enter the van in question, Mr. Dunmore's son, Stephen, deflected responsibility.

The New York Times

Mr. Hoatson said he had been among those who had been abused".It deflects responsibility from the bishops and puts it on to a sociological problem," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deflect responsibility" when you want to emphasize an attempt to avoid blame by diverting attention elsewhere, rather than simply accepting accountability.

Common error

Ensure the subject actively tries to evade accountability; avoid using the phrase when actions unintentionally lead to diffused responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deflect responsibility" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to avoid being held accountable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct. Examples on Ludwig show it's used in contexts where someone is actively avoiding blame.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deflect responsibility" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of avoiding blame, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently found in news and media, where it often critiques attempts to evade accountability. Alternatives include "shift the blame" or "evade accountability". When using the phrase, ensure the subject is actively trying to evade responsibility rather than unintentionally causing a diffusion of accountability. Be aware that while grammatically sound, using "deflect responsibility" carries a negative connotation due to its critical assessment. In conclusion, "deflect responsibility" is a valid and frequently used phrase, especially when critiquing accountability, as evidenced by the variety of examples from Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shift the blame

Highlights the act of transferring blame to someone or something else.

dodge the blame

Similar to "shift the blame" but implies a more skillful or evasive maneuver.

evade accountability

Focuses more on avoiding being held accountable, subtly different from shifting blame.

pass the buck

An idiomatic expression indicating the act of avoiding responsibility by delegating it to someone else.

sidestep accountability

Suggests clever or strategic avoidance of responsibility.

shirk accountability

Implies a neglect of duty and avoidance of being answerable for one's actions.

redirect culpability

Emphasizes redirecting blame or guilt to another party.

transfer liability

Focuses on transferring legal or financial responsibility.

abdicate responsibility

Implies a formal relinquishing of duty or obligation.

disown accountability

Suggests a complete rejection of responsibility.

FAQs

What does it mean to "deflect responsibility"?

To "deflect responsibility" means to attempt to avoid blame or accountability for something, often by shifting the focus or fault onto someone or something else.

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

You might say, "The politician tried to "shift the blame" for the scandal by deflecting responsibility onto his staff."

What are some alternatives to saying "deflect responsibility"?

Alternatives include "evade accountability", "shift the blame", or "pass the buck", depending on the context.

Is it better to "deflect responsibility" or accept it?

In most ethical and professional contexts, accepting responsibility is considered more appropriate. "Deflecting responsibility" is generally seen as a negative action.