shift the blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shift the blame" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone taking the blame for something that is not their fault. For example, "John shifted the blame for the mistake onto his coworker even though he was the one who made it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fourth, apologists try to shift the blame.

The New York Times

Now it's trying to shift the blame elsewhere".

The Guardian - Business

And I'm amazed that they're trying to shift the blame".

The New York Times

Trump's attempt to shift the blame to Democrats is laughable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Anita's unwillingness to shift the blame away from respondent became discernible early in her testimony.

Cornell University

"The police tried to shift the blame to her, to make her feel guilty," Blackburn said.

The New Yorker

During the trial, his lawyers had done their best to shift the blame to her.

The New Yorker

In public, oil company executives are trying to shift the blame.

The New York Times

The result was that those accused of name-calling tried to shift the blame elsewhere.

The New Yorker

Notice how the verbs shift the blame around: "My children were late": How passive.

The New York Times

Then they shift the blame on to an individual or a small group of people.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shift the blame" when you want to emphasize the act of evading responsibility rather than simply making a mistake.

Common error

Avoid using "shift the blame" when there's no clear evidence of deliberate intent to evade responsibility. Sometimes, individuals might genuinely misunderstand the situation or make an honest mistake, which is different from actively trying to "shift the blame".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shift the blame" functions as a verbal phrase. Based on Ludwig, it describes an action of transferring responsibility or fault from one party to another. The action is often viewed negatively, implying an attempt to evade accountability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

12%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shift the blame" is a commonly used expression that describes the act of evading responsibility by placing it on someone else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase is appropriate for both formal and informal situations, it's important to consider the intent behind its usage, avoiding it when there is no clear evidence of deliberate intent to evade responsibility. Alternatives like "pass the buck" or "evade responsibility" can offer subtle differences in emphasis, and careful source validation should always be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass the buck

This alternative is an idiom that suggests avoiding responsibility by passing it to someone else.

evade responsibility

This focuses on avoiding accountability for actions or outcomes.

transfer the responsibility

This alternative highlights the act of moving the onus of responsibility to another.

deflect criticism

This emphasizes redirecting negative feedback or censure away from oneself.

pass the responsibility

This highlights the action of delegating responsibility, especially when trying to avoid blame.

attribute fault to another

This is a more formal way of saying someone is trying to assign blame to someone else.

lay the blame on

This alternative emphasizes the act of placing blame directly on someone or something.

pin the blame on

This suggests firmly attaching the blame to someone or something.

impute blame

This is a more formal term for assigning blame or fault.

assign culpability

This phrase indicates assigning legal or moral responsibility for wrongdoing.

FAQs

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

You can use "shift the blame" to describe someone trying to avoid responsibility for something by placing the fault on someone else. For instance, "The company attempted to "shift the blame" for the product failure onto the manufacturing team".

What are some alternatives to "shift the blame"?

Some alternatives include "pass the buck", "evade responsibility", or "transfer the responsibility". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "shift the blame" in formal writing?

Yes, "shift the blame" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing accountability and responsibility in professional or academic contexts. However, ensure your tone remains objective and avoids accusatory language.

What's the difference between "shift the blame" and "make excuses"?

"Shift the blame" implies a deliberate attempt to assign responsibility to someone else to avoid consequences. "Make excuses", on the other hand, might involve providing justifications or reasons for a mistake without necessarily trying to blame another person. For instance, "shifting the blame" involves actively trying to get others to think someone else is responsible, whereas making excuses is more about mitigating personal responsibility.