pass the buck — to shift responsibility or blame to someone else
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to shift responsibility or blame to someone else
Pronunciation (IPA): /pæs ðə bʌk/
Example Sentences
- The CEO decided not to pass the buck and took full responsibility for the company's losses.
- Every time something goes wrong in our office, people start playing 'pass the buck' like it's an Olympic sport.
- Instead of passing the buck, the team leader admitted the mistake was his.
pass the buck
NOUN[/pæs ðə bʌk/]
to shift responsibility or blame to someone else
to shift responsibility or blame to someone else
Can't pass the buck when your truck is stuck!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase originated in 19th-century American poker games. The 'buck' was a marker (originally a knife with a deer-horn handle) used to indicate the dealer's position. Players who did not wish to deal would pass this marker to the next player, and the practice evolved metaphorically to mean shifting responsibility or blame to someone else.
Breakdown
pass (transfer, hand over) + the buck (a marker object indicating the dealer's turn in poker, originally derived from buckskin or deer-horn materials used for the physical token).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The CEO decided not to pass the buck and took full responsibility for the company's losses.”
“Every time something goes wrong in our office, people start playing 'pass the buck' like it's an Olympic sport.”
“Instead of passing the buck, the team leader admitted the mistake was his.”
“Politicians are experts at passing the buck - they could win gold medals in responsibility avoidance!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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