elude responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elude responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone avoiding or escaping accountability for their actions or decisions. Example: "He tried to elude responsibility for the project's failure by blaming his team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A3 Mass Graves May Hold 800 Serbia's interior minister, Dusan Mihajlovic, said the police believed that 800 victims of the 1999 Kosovo conflict had been buried in mass graves and promised that the guilty would not elude responsibility.

The New York Times

Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic said today that the police believed that 800 victims of the Kosovo conflict in 1999 had been buried in mass graves and promised that the guilty would not elude responsibility.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As elusive as he might be on a football field, he is at least equally talented at eluding responsibility away from one.

The New York Times - Sports

We are not connecting our manmade disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan with our budget deficits to our big shots like Dick Cheney who walking this earth with a smugness that eludes responsibility of any kind.

Huffington Post

Whereas Churchill's role in all this is clear, Roosevelt's responsibility largely eludes Stafford.

The New York Times - Books

Although the story is filled with young men who are the objects of her desire and her contempt, its tensile arc is formed by her father (played by Pialat), a frustrated aesthete who places tight demands on his family as he pursues the freedom that has eluded him in decades of responsibility.

The New Yorker

While Republicans continue their full-cry pursuit of Susan Rice, the actual secretary of state has eluded blame, even though Benghazi is her responsibility.

The New York Times

But he could not elude the throng, and he briefly answered questions, taking full responsibility.

The New York Times - Sports

But the reasons elude us.

The New York Times

Frank Sinatra eluded Bruce Forsyth as he was later to elude Michael Parkinson.

Independent

Fame will always elude him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing formal contexts, consider using "avoid responsibility" instead of "elude responsibility" for greater clarity and broader understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "elude responsibility" in highly formal or academic writing unless you specifically intend to convey a sense of cunning or skillful evasion. Simpler alternatives such as "avoid" or "escape" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elude responsibility" functions as a verb phrase, where "elude" acts as a transitive verb taking "responsibility" as its object. It describes the act of avoiding or escaping accountability. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elude responsibility" is grammatically correct and denotes the act of avoiding accountability. While acceptable in various contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media sources. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity. Alternatives such as "avoid responsibility" or "dodge responsibility" may be more suitable in certain formal settings. When choosing to use "elude responsibility", consider its implication of intentional evasion and whether that nuance is appropriate for your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid responsibility

This alternative is a more direct and common way of saying "elude responsibility", indicating a simple act of keeping away from being accountable.

dodge responsibility

This alternative emphasizes the active effort to evade or skillfully avoid being held responsible.

shirk responsibility

This alternative implies neglecting or failing to fulfill one's responsibility, often due to laziness or unwillingness.

evade accountability

This phrase focuses specifically on avoiding being held accountable for actions, often suggesting a deliberate attempt to escape scrutiny.

escape accountability

This alternative suggests a successful attempt to break free from being answerable for something.

side-step responsibility

This implies maneuvering around the responsibility, not addressing it directly but finding a way to go around it.

skirt responsibility

This indicates avoiding direct involvement or addressing the responsibility without fully disengaging.

duck responsibility

This suggests a sudden and quick movement to avoid being caught by the responsibility.

pass the buck

This idiom means to shift responsibility onto someone else, often to avoid blame.

cop out

This slang term implies avoiding responsibility by providing excuses or justifications.

FAQs

What does "elude responsibility" mean?

The phrase "elude responsibility" means to avoid, escape, or cleverly dodge being held accountable for something, often implying a deliberate effort to evade blame or consequences.

What can I say instead of "elude responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid responsibility", "dodge responsibility", or "shirk responsibility" depending on the context.

How is "elude responsibility" different from "avoid responsibility"?

"Elude responsibility" often suggests a more skillful or cunning attempt to evade accountability, while "avoid responsibility" is a more general term for keeping away from being accountable.

Is it more appropriate to use "elude responsibility" or "escape responsibility" in formal writing?

Escape responsibility or "avoid responsibility" are generally more appropriate for formal writing, as "elude responsibility" can imply a deliberate or even deceptive evasion.