Pass the buck
/pɑːs ðə bʌk/informalUK · US
What does “Pass the buck” mean?
Pass the buck means to avoid responsibility by making someone else deal with a problem or decision.
Passing the buck means making someone else deal with a responsibility you want to avoid. It might be a decision, a complaint or the consequences of a mistake.
Sharing work fairly isn't buck-passing. The phrase criticises someone for refusing to take responsibility, not simply for asking for help.
When do people say it?
Use it critically when a person or organisation hands off responsibility instead of addressing an issue.
“Every department passed the buck, and nobody answered my complaint.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
The usual explanation comes from poker: a “buck” was a marker passed between players to show whose turn it was to deal. The phrase now means passing responsibility to someone else.
Origin confidence: Reasonably documented
How do you say “Pass the buck” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Throw someone under the bus, Blame or betray someone to protect yourself.
- Face the music, Accept unpleasant consequences for your actions
Last updated 2026-09-16