the buck stops with

USAGE SUMMARY

"the buck stops with" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that the responsibility or accountability for something ultimately lies with a specific person or group. Example: In a business meeting, the CEO declared, "From now on, the buck stops with me. I will be personally overseeing all projects to ensure their success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The buck stops with us.

The New York Times

"Ultimately, the buck stops with me.

The New York Times

The buck stops with her.

The Guardian

"So the buck stops with you.

The Guardian - Money

The buck stops with Mr Bercow.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The buck stops with me," McMahon said.

The New York Times - Sports

"The buck stops with me," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

"The buck stops with the C.E.O".

The New York Times

Here, the buck stops with Ed Miliband.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I am the president, and the buck stops with me".

The New York Times

But Allardyce believes the buck stops with results.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the buck stops with" to clearly indicate where the ultimate responsibility lies in a situation. For example, when addressing a team after a project failure, a leader might say: "The buck stops with me; I should have provided better guidance."

Common error

Avoid using "the buck stops with" to deflect blame onto someone else indirectly. This phrase should be used to accept responsibility, not to subtly point fingers. An example of misuse would be saying: "The buck stops with accounting, but marketing should have provided accurate forecasts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the buck stops with" functions as an idiomatic expression used to assign ultimate responsibility or accountability to a specific individual or group. Ludwig's examples show its common usage in contexts where leaders or those in charge accept accountability for outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Reference

2%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the buck stops with" is a widely recognized and frequently used idiom that assigns ultimate responsibility to an individual or group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its prevalence in various sources, especially in news and media. The phrase effectively conveys accountability and leadership, making it valuable in both formal and informal communication. While widely accepted, ensure its usage genuinely reflects acceptance of responsibility rather than an indirect deflection of blame.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I take full responsibility

Directly states assumption of responsibility.

I am accountable

Focuses on being answerable for actions.

The responsibility rests with me

Similar in structure, but uses 'rests' instead of 'stops'.

I am to blame

Directly admits fault.

The onus is on me

Highlights the burden of responsibility.

I am in charge

Emphasizes leadership and control, implying responsibility.

I will bear the consequences

Focuses on accepting the results of actions.

It's my fault

Simple and direct admission of error.

I own the outcome

Highlights acceptance of the result, whether positive or negative.

I'm at the helm

Implies responsibility through leadership.

FAQs

How can I use "the buck stops with" in a sentence?

Use "the buck stops with" to indicate the person or entity that holds the ultimate responsibility for a situation. For example: "As CEO, "the buck stops with me" regarding the company's financial performance."

What does it mean when someone says "the buck stops with" them?

It means they are accepting ultimate responsibility for something, acknowledging that they are accountable for the outcome, whether it's positive or negative.

Are there situations where it's inappropriate to say "the buck stops with" me?

While generally appropriate when taking responsibility, it could be perceived as insincere if said without demonstrating genuine accountability or a plan to rectify the situation.

What are some alternatives to saying ""the buck stops with me""?

Alternatives include "I take full responsibility", "I am accountable", or "The responsibility rests with me". The choice depends on the context and the nuance you want to convey.