point fingers
Accuse others openly
To point fingers is to assign blame, usually to deflect responsibility from oneself: Everyone's pointing fingers, but no one's taking accountability.
The image is of literally pointing at someone to identify them as the culprit.
Often appears with "at": Don't point fingers at me—I wasn't even there.
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- accuseClaim someone did wrong
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
lay blame · cast aspersions · implicate · throw under the bus · name names · scapegoat · put the blame on · pass the buck · charge · indict · vilify · incriminate · reproach · censure · witch hunt · allege · impute · responsibility
point fingerstake responsibility
Accept fault for outcomes
own up · take the fall · fall on one's sword · take the blame · confess
point fingerscircle the wagons
Adopt collective defense
have someone's back · defend · cover for · forgive · absolve
point, finger, points, fingers, pointed, pointing, pointer, pointers, pointy