C1idiominformalworkIELTS-friendly
pass the buck
USUK
to make someone else deal with a problem that you should deal with
Critical. Use 'to' for the person who gets the problem: 'pass the buck to someone'.
In context
Every department kept passing the buck, so nobody fixed the customer's problem.
Don't pass the buck to the intern; the mistake was in your report.
More idioms about work
- a baptism of firea very difficult first experience of a new job or activity
- a cushy joba job that is easy and pleasant but still pays well
- a dead-end joba job with no chance of promotion or of learning anything new
- a jack of all tradesa person who can do many different kinds of work fairly well
- a labour of lovehard work that you do because you enjoy it or care about it, not for money