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Business English vocabulary · Office Idioms and Phrases

Pass the buck

Meaning in business english, with examples

idiomCommon term

In business english, pass the buck means: To shift responsibility for a problem or decision onto someone else.

In Turkish: sorumluluğu başkasına atmak

How it is used

Critical and informal. Distinguish avoiding responsibility from a legitimate escalation to someone who has the authority to decide.

Example sentences

  1. Please do not pass the buck to reception when your team entered the wrong address.

    The speaker points to the team responsible for the original error.

  2. Both departments tried to pass the buck, leaving the customer without an answer.

    Responsibility avoidance prevents anyone from resolving the request.

Common collocations

  • try to pass the buck
  • refuse to pass the buck
  • report toTo have someone as your direct manager, the person who gives you work, approves your decisions and reviews your performance.
  • decision rightsThe formal authority to make certain decisions in an organization, including which role may approve, reject, or choose among options.

More terms: Office Idioms and Phrases

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