"pass the responsibility to him" vs "shift the responsibility on him"

Question

"pass the responsibility to him" vs "shift the responsibility on him"

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Shift the responsibility on him' implies transferring the blame or accountability to someone else, while 'pass the responsibility to him' suggests handing over a task or duty. The choice between the two depends on the context and the intended meaning.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used when you want to indicate that you are giving someone else a specific responsibility or task to handle.

Examples:

I will pass the responsibility to him since I am too busy to handle it.
She passed the responsibility to her assistant to complete the project.

Alternatives:

shift the responsibility on him
assign the responsibility to him
delegate the responsibility to him
transfer the responsibility to him
place the responsibility on him

This phrase is used when you want to indicate that someone is trying to avoid responsibility by putting it on someone else. It implies a negative connotation.

Examples:

He always tries to shift the responsibility on others when things go wrong.
Don't try to shift the responsibility on me; you are the one who made the mistake.

Alternatives:

pass the responsibility to him
assign the responsibility to him
delegate the responsibility to him
transfer the responsibility to him
place the responsibility on him

Answer 1

pass the responsibility to him

This phrase is correct and commonly used. It implies handing over a task or duty to someone else.

Answer 2

shift the responsibility on him

This phrase is correct but less common than the alternative. It implies transferring the blame or accountability to someone else.

"pass the responsibility to him" vs "shift the responsibility on him"

pass the responsibility to him

shift the responsibility on him

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