pass the buck
Evade personal accountability
To pass the buck is to shift responsibility or blame to someone else rather than deal with it yourself.
The phrase comes from poker, where a marker (the buck) indicated whose turn it was to deal.
Don't pass the buck—this is your project.
The opposite sentiment appears in Harry Truman's desk sign: "The buck stops here."
- hot potatoRisky topic avoided
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- cop outEvade a commitment
- shirkEvade one's obligations
- evadeEscape by cunning
blame · finger-pointing · point the finger · abdicate · wash my hands · scapegoat · musical chairs · transfer · deflect · handoff · get out of · Pontius Pilate · shift · coward · look the other way · culpability · elude · accountability
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, alibi, excuses
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- blamin'fault, guilt, accusing, finger-pointing, scapegoat
- delegation phrasesdelegate, hand off, farm out, assign, outsource
pass the bucktake responsibility
Accept fault for outcomes
own it · the buck stops here · own · take ownership · step up
pass the bucktake charge
Begin leading a situation
step up to the plate · take the lead · grasp the nettle · take the bull by the horns · take command
pass the bucklead by example
Influence through personal conduct
take charge · be accountable · walk the talk · stand up and be counted
pass, passing, buck, passport, passed, bucks, passable, passes, passer