picked up the mantle
Took over duties
Picked up the mantle means assumed responsibility or leadership from a predecessor.
A mantle is a cloak, and the phrase derives from the biblical story of Elijah passing his prophetic role to Elisha by giving him his cloak.
The expression typically describes someone continuing important work after another has stepped aside or died: After the founder retired, his daughter picked up the mantle.
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- family legacyWhat generations pass down
- next in linePositioned to succeed immediately
- torchHandheld burning light source
- successionFollowing in order
burden · sacred duty · stewardship · undertaking · lineage · passing the torch · continuity · carry on · preservation · took the reins · cloak · tradition · governance · stepped up · delegation · accountability · implementation · authority
picked up the mantleabdicated
Relinquished power formally
stepped down · walked away · passed the buck · abandoned ship · threw in the towel
picked up the mantledisengaged
Not participating or invested
withdrew · gave up · quit · checked out · dropped the ball