Upper-Intermediate ๐Ÿ’ฌ Idioms & Phrasal Verbs ยท #159 of 182

Idiom: Pass the Buck

to shift blame

Examples

  • Don't pass the buck.

Key rules

  • Pass the buck means shift responsibility to someone else
  • It is informal and used in negatives: don't pass the buck
  • The phrase uses "the buck" in the singular

Common mistakes

  • Don't pass the bucks โ†’ Don't pass the buck
๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Use it to criticise someone who avoids responsibility.

Related Upper-Intermediate topics

See all Upper-Intermediate idioms & phrasal verbs lessons โ†’