pass the buck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'pass the buck' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used as an idiom meaning to shift responsibility or blame onto someone else. For example: "The manager regretted having to pass the buck, but it was the only way to keep the project on track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To pass the buck.

The New Yorker

"They pass the buck".

The New York Times

You should not pass the buck.

The New York Times

PM You can't pass the buck.

The Guardian

It's easy to pass the buck.

The Guardian - Sport

Politicians love to pass the buck downward.

The New York Times

HOWARD SCHULTZ is not trying to pass the buck.

The Economist

"The president can't pass the buck on this one.

The Washington Post

I really dislike people who pass the buck.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The local government's slow responses always pass the buck".

The Guardian

"Everyone wants to pass the buck," Orms said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pass the buck" when you want to emphasize the act of avoiding responsibility by assigning it to someone else. Be mindful of the context to ensure it conveys the intended meaning of shirking accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "pass the buck" when simply delegating tasks. Delegation involves assigning responsibilities appropriately, whereas "pass the buck" implies an attempt to evade blame or accountability for something gone wrong.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "pass the buck" functions as a verb phrase. It's used to describe the act of transferring responsibility or blame to another person, often to avoid taking accountability for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pass the buck" is a very common idiomatic phrase that describes the act of avoiding responsibility by shifting it onto someone else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it often carries a negative connotation. Related phrases include ""shift the blame"" and "evade accountability", offering alternative ways to express this concept. When using this phrase, be mindful of the implication of shirking accountability rather than legitimate delegation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass the responsibility

A more literal alternative, less idiomatic than the original.

buck-passing

A noun form of the idiom, referring to the act of shifting responsibility.

shift the blame

Focuses specifically on transferring blame, rather than responsibility more broadly.

foist responsibility

Suggests imposing an unwelcome responsibility on someone else.

shirk responsibility

Emphasizes neglecting or evading responsibility altogether.

evade accountability

Highlights the avoidance of being held responsible for one's actions.

hand off responsibility

Implies a more formal transfer of duties or tasks.

transfer the onus

Formally, it suggests transfering the burden or responsibility.

cop out

An informal way to describe avoiding a difficult situation or responsibility.

delegate responsibility

Suggests assigning a task to someone else, which may or may not be an attempt to avoid blame.

FAQs

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

You can use "pass the buck" to describe someone avoiding responsibility by assigning it to another person. For example, "The manager tried to "shift the blame" onto his subordinate when the project failed."

What's a more formal way to say "pass the buck"?

While "pass the buck" is widely understood, a more formal alternative could be "transfer the responsibility" or "delegate responsibility", although the latter may imply a more legitimate assignment of tasks.

What's the difference between "pass the buck" and "delegate"?

"Pass the buck" implies avoiding blame by shifting responsibility, whereas "delegate" simply means assigning a task to someone else, often without the intention of shirking accountability. Delegating is a management skill; passing the buck is often seen negatively.

Is "buck-passing" the same as "pass the buck"?

"Buck-passing" is the noun form of the idiom "pass the buck". "Buck-passing" refers to the act of "evading accountability" by transferring responsibility, while "pass the buck" is the action of doing so.