pass the blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pass the blame" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to situations in which one person attempts to avoid responsibility for something by shifting the blame onto someone else. For example: "Rather than admitting his mistake, Jake tried to pass the blame onto his colleague."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Don't pass the blame.

The New York Times - Sports

"They want to pass the blame to Europe and the I.M.F.," Professor Papasotiriou said.

The New York Times

Nailing down the final details won't be easy, especially with each company eager to pass the blame to the others.

The New York Times

Universities pass the blame on to schools: not enough girls take Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

The Guardian

But, the corporations pass the blame to the government who in turn, passes the blame back to the corporations, while the people live in squalor.

Stanford University

This was not, from the sound of it, an attempt on Roeder's part to pass the blame, but to give proper credit to his source of inspiration.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The Swans are passing the blame.

The Guardian - Books

They've been passing the blame around.

The New Yorker

On this subject, the Jets passed the blame like a tray of hors d'oeuvres.

The New York Times - Sports

These days, everyone passes the blame backward — but we couldn't do that.

The New Yorker

Kerr says this makes you look petty and as though you are passing the blame around or making excuses.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about responsibility, use "pass the blame" to clearly indicate an attempt to evade accountability and shift fault onto another party. This phrase is direct and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "pass the blame" when the intention is to describe someone taking responsibility. The phrase inherently implies a refusal to accept accountability, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pass the blame" functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it is used to describe the action of avoiding responsibility by attributing fault to another person or entity. Many examples illustrate this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pass the blame" is a common phrase used to describe the act of avoiding responsibility by attributing fault to someone else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across varied sources. Its usage is most prevalent in news and media, with a neutral register that makes it widely accessible. Related phrases such as "shift the blame" and "evade accountability" offer alternative ways to express this concept, each with slight differences in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intent to convey an evasion of responsibility, avoiding confusion with accepting responsibility. Be aware of overuse in formal writing, considering it might be perceived informally.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shift the blame

Focuses on the action of moving blame from oneself.

pin the blame on

Suggests directly assigning blame, often publicly.

transfer responsibility

Emphasizes the transfer of accountability.

evade accountability

Highlights the avoidance of being held responsible.

shirk responsibility

Suggests a neglect of duty by passing it on.

attribute fault to

Formal way of assigning blame or a cause of failure to someone else.

lay the blame at someone's door

More figurative, indicating assigning responsibility directly.

hold someone responsible

Places accountability on someone else.

impute blame to

Formal term for assigning blame or fault.

assign culpability

Highlights the legalistic assignment of responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "pass the blame" in a sentence?

You can use "pass the blame" to describe situations where someone avoids taking responsibility by attributing fault to someone else. For instance, "Instead of admitting his mistake, he tried to "shift the blame" to his colleague".

What are some alternatives to "pass the blame"?

Alternatives include "shift responsibility", "transfer the blame", or "shirk responsibility", each carrying slightly different nuances of evading accountability.

Is it correct to say "passed the blame"?

Yes, "passed the blame" is the past tense form of "pass the blame" and is grammatically correct when referring to a past action. For example, "He "passed the error" to the news agency to try and cover his tracks".

What is the difference between "pass the blame" and "accept responsibility"?

"Pass the blame" implies avoiding accountability by attributing fault to others, whereas "accept responsibility" means acknowledging and taking ownership of one's actions or failures. They are opposite in meaning.