it is not down to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not down to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is not the responsibility or cause of a particular person or thing. Example: "The success of the project is not down to one individual; it was a team effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It is not down to individuals, nor retailers nor manufacturers alone to address this problem.

Independent

"It is not down to me to say whether he should stay at Manchester City or go.

Independent

"It is not down to just one person to fight the Oystons, it is our collective duty".

The Guardian - Sport

It is not down to him to solve the problems of gratuitous gun violence plaguing American society, nor is there any conclusive evidence to suggest that there is a connection between on-screen and real-life violence.

Independent

"Results have not gone our way this season and it is not down to one particular thing," says Ford. "Within each game we have identified why we did not quite get the result – discipline, ball control or a few defensive errors; the challenge for us is to address them quickly and put in a complete performance.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is not down to Joe Hart on his own.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

And it isn't down to Yamada's knife skills.

Independent

"It isn't down to the coaches or the players to keep the peace," he added.

The Guardian - Sport

"It isn't down to the coaches or the players to keep the peace," the Barcelona manager added.

The Guardian - Sport

If there is a problem with overfishing in the UK, he adds, it isn't down to the day boats.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's not down to tactics, it's not down to the coach, it's down to the fans and the way they responded after the goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use this to clarify the scope of one's duties, so that the scope is not confused with another's duties.

Common error

Avoid using "it is not down to" when you should instead be clarifying shared responsibilities. This phrase is best when specifying individual accountabilities, not collaborative efforts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not down to" functions as a declarative expression to specify a lack of responsibility, influence, or control. Ludwig provides examples illustrating this use in various contexts, confirming its role in clarifying accountability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is not down to" is a phrase used to clearly indicate that a responsibility, decision, or outcome does not belong to a specific person or entity. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and sport contexts. While acceptable in various settings, it's vital to use it accurately to avoid confusion regarding who is accountable. Consider synonyms like "it is not attributable to" or "it is not the responsibility of" for formal writing, and be mindful not to use it when shared responsibility applies. The phrase serves to clarify accountabilities rather than to deflect from them.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It is not the responsibility of

Directly states that someone or something is not accountable for a particular task or outcome.

It's not up to

More informal way of saying something is not someone's decision or responsibility.

It is not attributable to

Emphasizes that something cannot be assigned or credited to a specific cause or person.

It is not determined by

Indicates that something is not decided or controlled by a particular entity.

It's not on

A colloquial way to express that someone isn't responsible for something.

It does not rest with

Formally expresses that the responsibility or decision-making power does not belong to someone.

It is not the place of

Indicates that someone or something does not have the authority or right to do something.

That's not on them

Informal expression stating that the fault or duty does not rest with a specific party.

It is beyond the scope of

Suggests that something falls outside the limits or boundaries of a particular area or responsibility.

It is not contingent upon

Highlights that something does not depend on a specific condition or factor.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is not down to" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it is not attributable to", "it is not the responsibility of", or "it does not rest with".

What's a more casual way to say "it is not down to"?

Informal alternatives include "it's not up to", "it's not on", or "that's not on them".

When is it appropriate to use "it is not down to"?

Use "it is not down to" when you want to clearly state that a particular outcome, responsibility, or decision does not belong to or depend on a specific person or entity.

Is there a difference between "it is not down to" and "it is not up to"?

While similar, "it is not down to" often implies a matter of responsibility or causation, whereas "it is not up to" primarily indicates a lack of decision-making authority. They can sometimes be used interchangeably, but context is key.