shirk responsibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shirk responsibilities" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to avoid or neglect one's duties or obligations. Example: It's not fair that you always shirk responsibilities and leave all the work for the rest of us.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

If we know where they have come from we can make sure the borough does not shirk responsibilities and just pass on their more difficult clients.

The Guardian

And, yes, if Green intends to shirk responsibilities to BHS pensioners that he has acknowledged, an honour for "services to retail" would be a nonsense.

The Guardian - Business

Are workers seen as a burden, a cost, people who would rather skive and shirk responsibilities, and who have to be supervised rigorously at all times?

The Guardian - Opinion

First among Mr. Holt's many resources is his wife, who has been an effective at-home therapist — in part, paradoxically, because she does not consider mental illness an adequate excuse to shirk responsibilities.

The New York Times - Health

I think they'll feel ownership of the project and empowerment, rather than see an opportunity to shirk responsibilities.

Huffington Post

Class valedictorian Young Hong – who will attend Cal Tech in the fall – told his classmates that they could no longer shirk responsibilities nor hide behind the guise of youth.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This is just the latest in a long string of recent responses to the issue that shirk responsibility for the content that users consume and share on Facebook.

TechCrunch

But he cannot shirk responsibility.

The Economist

"It's impermissible for them to want to shirk responsibility.

The New York Times

There are always those who mistake freedom for license and shirk responsibility.

The New York Times

When things go to pieces, we shirk responsibility and seek other explanations.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shirk responsibilities" when you want to emphasize a deliberate act of avoiding duties, often due to laziness or a desire to avoid effort. Be mindful of the negative connotation associated with the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "shirk responsibilities" when you mean to say someone is delegating tasks to others. Delegating is a legitimate management technique, while shirking implies negligence and avoidance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shirk responsibilities" functions as a verb phrase. It typically acts as the predicate of a sentence, describing the action of avoiding or neglecting one's duties. Ludwig confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shirk responsibilities" describes the act of avoiding or neglecting duties. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and that, while not overly common, it is effectively used in formal, news, and academic writing. "Shirk responsibilities" carries a negative connotation, implying a failure to meet obligations and leading to criticism or disapproval. Related phrases include "evade responsibilities" and "neglect duties", but it's important to avoid confusing it with delegation, which is the act of assigning responsibility. Remember to use this phrase when you want to strongly convey disapproval of someone failing to do what they are supposed to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evade responsibilities

This alternative suggests a deliberate attempt to escape or avoid fulfilling obligations.

neglect duties

This option emphasizes a lack of attention or care in performing one's assigned tasks.

dodge obligations

This implies cleverly avoiding or escaping duties, often with a sense of trickery.

abdicate duties

This suggests formally relinquishing or abandoning responsibilities, often associated with leadership roles.

sidestep responsibilities

This indicates an attempt to avoid dealing directly with duties, moving to the side to avoid them.

avoid commitments

Similar meaning, focusing on avoiding previously agreed-upon obligations.

abandon duties

This option conveys a complete desertion of responsibilities.

fail to fulfill obligations

This is a more formal and direct way of saying that someone is not meeting their responsibilities.

default on duties

This phrase suggests a failure to meet the expectations or requirements of a role or task.

be remiss in one's duties

This option expresses a sense of negligence or carelessness in performing one's responsibilities.

FAQs

How can I use "shirk responsibilities" in a sentence?

You can use "shirk responsibilities" to describe someone avoiding their duties. For example, "It's unfair when one team member consistently "shirks responsibilities", leaving others to pick up the slack."

What does it mean to "shirk responsibilities"?

To "shirk responsibilities" means to avoid or neglect duties or obligations. It implies a deliberate act of trying to get out of doing what you are supposed to do.

Are there synonyms for "shirk responsibilities"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "evade responsibilities", "neglect duties", or "avoid commitments" to convey a similar meaning.

What is the difference between "shirk responsibility" and "delegate responsibility"?

"Shirk responsibility" implies avoiding or neglecting a duty, while "delegate responsibility" means assigning a duty to someone else. "Delegating responsibility" is an appropriate management practice; "shirking responsibility" is not.