PhrasesHub

Pass the buck

    Definitions

      • shift responsibility
        Blame someone else or transfer a duty or obligation to another person

      • avoid taking responsibility
        Evade accountability or avoid dealing with a problem or issue

    Examples of Pass the buck

    • The boss constantly passes the buck to his subordinates whenever something goes wrong.

      This idiom means that the boss avoids taking responsibility for his actions and shifts the blame onto others. It's originated from the old Western tradition when a sheriff would pass a buck (a large, round object used as currency) to a cowboy during a poker game as a sign that it was his turn to deal the cards. If the cowboy didn't want to deal, he would pass the buck to the next person, essentially passing on the responsibility.

    • John is trying to pass the buck on the project deadline, claiming that the team lacks the necessary resources.

      In this example, "pass the buck" is being used to say that John is trying to avoid being held responsible for missing the project deadline by blaming it on a lack of resources.

    • The police officer passed the buck to the traffic department when I complained about the broken traffic light.

      In this case, "pass the buck" means that the police officer did not take any action to resolve the issue but instead transferred the responsibility to another department.

    • The manager blamed the marketing team for the failed campaign and passed the buck to them.

      This example is similar to the previous one, but in this case, the manager specifically accused the marketing team for the failure and shifted the blame onto them.

    • "The project manager passed the buck by blaming the software developer for the failed project."

      In this example, "pass the buck" is used as a phrasal verb to mean shifting blame to someone else. The project manager, instead of taking responsibility for the failed project, accused the software developer of being responsible. By doing so, the project manager is avoiding taking blame for the project's failure, and passing the responsibility on to someone else.

    • "The CEO passed the buck by delegating the decision making to the vice presidents, without providing clear guidelines or expectations."

      In this example, "pass the buck" is used to mean avoiding making a tough decision or taking responsibility for a decision by delegating it to someone else. The CEO is essentially passing the decision making responsibility on to the vice presidents, without providing them with the necessary guidance or expectations. By doing so, the CEO is avoiding having to take responsibility for the decision's outcome, and "passing the buck" onto someone else.

    • "The sales director passed the buck by claiming that the sales quota was too high, and that he couldn't meet it."

      In this example, "pass the buck" is used to mean shifting blame onto external factors. The sales director is suggesting that the sales quota was too high, rather than admitting that he couldn't meet it due to poor performance or managerial issues. By "passing the buck," the sales director is avoiding admitting his own shortcomings, and making excuses instead.

    • "The teacher passed the buck by assigning extra work to the students instead of taking responsibility for the poor examination results."

      In this example, "pass the buck" is used to mean shifting responsibility onto others. The teacher, rather than taking responsibility for the poor examination results, passes the responsibility onto the students by assigning them extra work. By doing so, the teacher is avoiding admitting her own failures, and "passing the buck" onto someone else.


    Conclusion

    "Pass the buck" is a common idiom used to describe the act of shifting responsibility or avoiding taking accountability. It can be used in various situations, such as in the workplace when someone tries to blame a mistake on someone else, or in personal relationships when someone tries to avoid dealing with a difficult situation.

    Origin of "Pass the buck"

    The origin of the idiom "pass the buck" can be traced back to poker, a popular card game. In the game, a marker called a "buck" was used to indicate which player was the dealer. When the dealer position moved to the next player, the marker was "passed" to them. Over time, this action of passing the buck became associated with shifting responsibility or avoiding accountability.

    The idiom gained popularity in the 20th century and is now commonly used in everyday language to describe the act of transferring a duty or obligation to someone else. It has become a widely understood phrase that captures the concept of avoiding taking responsibility.