take the onus off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take the onus off' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe the action of removing or transferring a burden or responsibility from one person or entity to another. For example: "The organization decided to take the onus off the employees and hire an outside contractor to handle the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Dr. Dietz said the school letters did call attention to the health risk of being overweight, but failed to put the news in context and take take the onus off parents.

The New York Times - Health

Ms Criado-Perez, 29, welcomed Twitter's response but said the process for reporting abuse should be further simplified to take the onus off the victim.

BBC

It was rumored that former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie was fighting like crazy to take the onus off the smartphone side of the business by opening up the BlackBerry network to other devices, though there's been little news on whether or not it remains a viable option now that Heins is in control.

TechCrunch

Take the onus off of us.

Vice

Of course, we have to push for punishment of sexual violence as the crime that it is, to take the onus off women whom this sexual culture has made afraid and compliant with its dictates.

Huffington Post

"So I thought if I were to donate all the proceeds from the single and the video to the HRC that would sort of take the onus off me a little bit.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"The beauty of crowdfunding platforms is that they take the onus of marketing off of the developers so they can focus on their projects and we can take care of the funding".

Huffington Post

According to its framework, advanced-economy central banks ought to have raised interest rates steadily from early 2010; on average, benchmark rates should now be above 3%—a recipe for macroeconomic disaster".Imbalances" take the onus of macroeconomic stabilisation off central banks.

The Economist

That takes the onus off me here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mets Manager Bobby Valentine took the onus off closers and said blown saves that happen before the ninth are more troubling.

The New York Times - Sports

It merely takes the onus off the rest of society to seriously consider what we can all do to prevent sexual violence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take the onus off" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or decision is intended to remove a burden or obligation from someone, allowing them to focus on other tasks or responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "take the onus off" when the responsibility is not actually being removed, but merely shifted to an inappropriate or less capable entity. Make sure the shift is logical and benefits the overall situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take the onus off" functions as a verb phrase, specifically as a transitive verb construction where "onus" serves as the direct object. This expression denotes the action of alleviating or transferring a burden, duty, or obligation from one entity to another, indicating a shift in responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is a correct and usable expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Science

16.66%

Wiki

16.66%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take the onus off" is a grammatically sound and idiomatic expression used to describe the act of relieving someone of a burden or responsibility. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. While not exceedingly common, it finds its primary usage in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When writing, remember that the purpose of this phrase is to emphasize the removal or transfer of a burden, and be mindful of whether the shift is truly beneficial. Alternatives include ""relieve of responsibility"" or "shift the burden". Understanding the nuances of "take the onus off" empowers writers to use it accurately and effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relieve of responsibility

Focuses on the act of alleviating duty, more direct.

shift the burden

Emphasizes the transfer of a heavy load or difficulty.

remove the obligation

Highlights the cancellation of a duty.

alleviate the pressure

Stresses the reduction of stress or strain.

discharge from duty

Implies a formal release from a specific task.

free from accountability

Highlights the release from being held responsible.

absolve from blame

Focuses on clearing someone from guilt or fault.

delegate responsibility

Emphasizes the action of assigning responsibilities to someone else.

transfer accountability

Highlights the transfer of responsibility for actions.

outsource the work

Implies that the task is given to third-party.

FAQs

What does it mean to "take the onus off" someone?

To "take the onus off" someone means to remove a burden, responsibility, or obligation from them. It suggests shifting the accountability or pressure to another party or entity.

How can I use "take the onus off" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe situations where responsibility is being shifted. For example, "The new software will "relieve of responsibility" the administrative team by automating many of their tasks."

What is a synonym for "take the onus off"?

Synonyms include "shift the burden", ""relieve of responsibility"", or "remove the obligation". All of these phrases indicate a transfer of responsibility.

Is it better to say "take the onus off" or "remove the responsibility from"?

Both phrases are correct, but "take the onus off" is a more idiomatic expression. "Remove the responsibility from" is more direct and may be preferable in formal contexts.