carry the can

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English

Etymology

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Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

carry the can (third-person singular simple present carries the can, present participle carrying the can, simple past and past participle carried the can)

(British, Canada, idiomatic) To take responsibility, especially in a challenging situation.
- 1998 April 25, Arati R. Jerath, "18 partners hunt for one voice," Indian Express (Bombay) (retrieved 21 Oct 2008):
  For Vajpayee, who is keen that he alone does not carry the can for his unwieldy alliance, it is a tough decision.
- 2008 October 16, Adrian Hamilton, “Comment: I wouldn't get too carried away by success if I were Brown”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 21 October 2008:
  You could reasonably argue that Brown himself should carry the can for much of the regulatory failure of the banks.
- 2015 June 17, Rick Bell, “Alberta NDP government chooses not to kick province's oil industry when it's down”, in Calgary Sun, Canada, retrieved 25 September 2015:
  They're not going to play the patsy where they carry the can for all the woes caused by a tanking in oil prices that's already happened.

Synonyms

take the rap

See also

Wikious

Boobota

Sagapedia