lay the blame for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay the blame for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to assign responsibility for a fault or wrongdoing to someone or something. Example: "The manager decided to lay the blame for the project's failure on the lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Experts like Timimi lay the blame for the epidemic on a "cultural colonisation".

Independent

That strategy would let him lay the blame for new taxes on the Legislature.

The New York Times

Patten doesn't lay the blame for Islamist terrorism directly on the West.

The New York Times

Pro-poverty policies aside, Governor Daniels will lay the blame for partisanship squarely at Mr. Obama's feet.

The New York Times

The lead anchor of "Newsnight," Jeremy Paxman, appeared to lay the blame for the fiasco outside "Newsnight".

The New York Times

Many are quick to lay the blame for the ubiquitous blemishes on any nationality but their own.

The New York Times

Besides, who hasn't at one time had the urge to lay the blame for her troubles at a parent's feet?

The New York Times - Books

It is far too easy to lay the blame for such indifference at the door of community organisations.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be wrong, however, to lay the blame for France's plight solely at the feet of Saint-André.

The Guardian - Sport

It is one thing for the Fed chairman to lay the blame for inflationary pressures on Wall Street.

The New York Times

They lay the blame for these cuts on the university, which they claim is putting the future student experience at UEA at risk.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lay the blame for", ensure you have credible evidence or reasoning to support the assignment of responsibility to avoid unfair accusations.

Common error

Avoid using "lay the blame for" without specific details or context. General accusations can be misleading and damage credibility. Instead, provide concrete examples and evidence to support your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay the blame for" functions as a verb phrase used to assign responsibility or fault for a particular situation or outcome. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use in assigning blame for various issues, from political failures to economic problems. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lay the blame for" is a common and grammatically correct way to assign responsibility or fault for a particular issue. As evidenced by Ludwig's analysis and numerous examples, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While its usage is generally neutral, the tone can range from professional to informal depending on the situation. Remember to use this phrase with specific details and evidence to avoid making overly broad or unsupported accusations. In conclusion, Ludwig AI confirms that "lay the blame for" is widely accepted in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attribute responsibility for

Replaces "blame" with "responsibility" and uses "attribute" to denote assignment.

assign fault for

Substitutes "blame" with "fault", emphasizing the negative aspect of responsibility.

place the onus on

Uses "onus" to signify burden of responsibility, altering the sentence structure.

hold accountable for

Focuses on the act of holding someone responsible for an action or outcome.

impute responsibility to

A more formal way of assigning responsibility, using "impute" to suggest attribution.

ascribe the cause to

Shifts the focus to identifying the cause and attributing it to a specific factor.

pin the responsibility on

A more informal expression indicating the act of assigning responsibility.

point the finger at

An idiomatic expression indicating accusation and assignment of blame.

shift the blame to

Highlights the act of transferring responsibility from one party to another.

saddle with the blame

Suggests burdening someone with the blame or responsibility.

FAQs

What does "lay the blame for" mean?

To "lay the blame for" means to assign responsibility or fault for something, typically a negative outcome or problem.

How can I use "lay the blame for" in a sentence?

You can use "lay the blame for" to express who or what is responsible for a particular situation. For example, "The analyst decided to "attribute responsibility for" the company's losses to poor management."

What are some alternatives to "lay the blame for"?

Alternatives include "assign fault for", "attribute responsibility for", or "hold accountable for". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it better to say "lay the blame on" or "lay the blame for"?

"Lay the blame for" is used to specify what the blame is being assigned regarding, while "lay the blame on" is used to specify who is being blamed. For instance, you "lay the blame for the accident" on the driver, or "pin the responsibility on" the driver.