pass the buck
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English
Etymology
May have originated with the game of poker, in which a marker or counter, frequently in frontier days a knife with a buckhorn handle, was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the "buckhorn" or "buck", as the marker came to be called, to the next player.
Pronunciation
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
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.
- Coordinate term: weasel out
- 2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 44:
- He closes the foreword by acknowledging that his proposals would have far-reaching impacts on railway staff, communities and industry - and passes the buck onto government to ensure that these consequences are managed appropriately.
Related terms
Translations
to transfer responsibility or blame from oneself
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Further reading
- Gary Martin (1997–) “Pass the buck”, in The Phrase Finder.