spread the blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spread the blame" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of distributing responsibility for a negative outcome among multiple parties. Example: "In the meeting, the manager tried to spread the blame for the project's failure among the team members instead of taking responsibility himself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Spread the blame around on that one.

The New York Times - Sports

Afterward, it was far easier to spread the blame.

The New York Times - Sports

Effort to Spread the Blame Over the last several months, Ms. Brooks spearheaded a strategy that seemed designed to spread the blame across Fleet Street, interviews show.

The New York Times

In this light, JPMorgan's strategy will most likely be to spread the blame while settling.

The New York Times

Later, Valentine spread the blame: "I could have pitched out more.

The New York Times - Sports

When it comes to bad news, the idea is to spread the blame around evenly.

The New York Times

He spread the blame around, from the defense to the coaching staff to the quarterback.

The New York Times

The teachers I talked to spread the blame widely among students, parents, teachers and administrators.

The New York Times

Mourinho offered his own analysis for his team's awful season yesterday, an analysis which spread the blame around.

Independent

Pakistan tried yesterday to spread the blame for what appears to have been a mighty intelligence foul-up.

Independent

It concluded that the crisis was "avoidable" and spread the blame far and wide among policymakers and bankers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spread the blame", consider the context carefully. Is the intent to distribute responsibility fairly, or to deflect it unfairly? Choose your words to reflect this nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "spread the blame" when the intention is to take full responsibility. This phrase implies a shared or distributed fault, which can weaken your message if you aim to demonstrate accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spread the blame" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of distributing responsibility for a mistake or negative outcome among multiple parties. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spread the blame" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the distribution of responsibility for a negative outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a frequently encountered phrase, especially within news and media contexts. The analysis reveals that while grammatically sound, the phrase often carries a negative connotation, implying an attempt to avoid individual accountability. Related phrases such as "share the responsibility" or "distribute the fault" offer alternative ways to express shared accountability. When employing the phrase, it's essential to consider the nuanced implications, particularly whether the aim is fair allocation or evasion of responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

share the responsibility

This alternative focuses on distributing the burden of accountability more generally.

distribute the fault

This alternative emphasizes distributing the blame to various parties.

share the culpability

This alternative focuses on sharing the responsibility of wrongdoing.

diffuse the accountability

This suggests reducing the concentration of responsibility, often to minimize individual culpability.

allocate the responsibility

This implies a more structured or formal assignment of responsibility.

apportion the blame

This alternative suggests a formal assignment of blame.

pass the buck

This idiom suggests avoiding responsibility by shifting it to someone else, often unfairly.

shift the responsibility

This phrase emphasizes moving the blame from one party to another.

assign culpability to multiple parties

This option describes attributing fault to various entities.

dilute the guilt

This suggests reducing the perceived severity of the fault by spreading it among multiple parties.

FAQs

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

You can use "spread the blame" to describe a situation where responsibility for a negative outcome is distributed among multiple parties. For example: "The manager tried to "spread the blame" for the project's failure among the team members."

What are some alternatives to "spread the blame"?

Alternatives to "spread the blame" include "share the responsibility", "distribute the fault", or "shift the responsibility", depending on the context.

Is "spread the blame" a negative or positive expression?

"Spread the blame" generally carries a negative connotation, implying that responsibility is being diffused to avoid individual accountability. It's often used in situations where someone is trying to avoid taking full responsibility.

What is the difference between "spread the blame" and "take responsibility"?

"Spread the blame" suggests distributing fault among multiple parties, while "take responsibility" implies accepting full accountability for an action or outcome. These are contrasting approaches to dealing with negative situations.