pass the buck
Speech parts
1. pass the buck - Verb
2. pass the buck - Phrase
Meaning
pass the buck (third-person singular simple present passes the buck, present participle passing the buck, simple past and past participle passed the buck)
(idiomatic, informal) To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related terms
Examples
I never trust an executive who tends to pass the buck. Nor would I want to deal with him as a customer or a supplier.
‘As such, I’m disappointed to see Highland Council appear to pass the buck entirely to the Scottish Government when this needs to be a joint effort.
It amply demonstrates that the society has become devoid of civic sense and presumably tries to pass the buck on to the law enforcement agencies.
"Spain has made a gesture that aims to trigger a European dynamic to stop looking away, allowing one (EU member) to cope with the problem while the rest of us pass the buck," Borrell told Ser radio late on Monday.
In the wake of mounting concerns over the LOI, during a press conference at FNM headquarters on Friday Mr. Cash stressed that the prime minister should not pass the buck to Mr.Wells to address the country on the issue.
It also criticized the President for trying to pass the buck to the IGP, a development which it said further exposed his lack of direct commitment and concern toward the well-being and security of Nigerians.