What's a word that means deflect blame?
I'm looking for a word that means someone is redirecting the blame or attention of something. I have a feeling it starts with an "a" or "i", but I'm not sure.
By the way, it's not "divert", I already thought of that.
Here's an example sentence:
"The Yankees Management had instituted a way of ___ to the players..."
single-word-requests meaning
New contributor
|
show 4 more comments
I'm looking for a word that means someone is redirecting the blame or attention of something. I have a feeling it starts with an "a" or "i", but I'm not sure.
By the way, it's not "divert", I already thought of that.
Here's an example sentence:
"The Yankees Management had instituted a way of ___ to the players..."
single-word-requests meaning
New contributor
2
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
6
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
1
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
2
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
I'm looking for a word that means someone is redirecting the blame or attention of something. I have a feeling it starts with an "a" or "i", but I'm not sure.
By the way, it's not "divert", I already thought of that.
Here's an example sentence:
"The Yankees Management had instituted a way of ___ to the players..."
single-word-requests meaning
New contributor
I'm looking for a word that means someone is redirecting the blame or attention of something. I have a feeling it starts with an "a" or "i", but I'm not sure.
By the way, it's not "divert", I already thought of that.
Here's an example sentence:
"The Yankees Management had instituted a way of ___ to the players..."
single-word-requests meaning
single-word-requests meaning
New contributor
New contributor
edited 29 mins ago
Chappo
2,87351225
2,87351225
New contributor
asked 21 hours ago
Sabir AdenSabir Aden
484
484
New contributor
New contributor
2
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
6
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
1
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
2
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
2
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
6
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
1
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
2
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago
2
2
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
6
6
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
1
1
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
2
2
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
Scapegoating
The practice of singling out a person or group for unmerited blame and consequent negative treatment (From Wiki link above)
In your context:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
add a comment |
Implicating
From American Heritage:
To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly
or Incriminating
To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate
(Again from American Heritage)
I have to change your sentence slightly to:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of incriminating the players.
This would mean they had a way of making it look like the players were wrong and thus shift the blame for any wrong doing on to the players.
add a comment |
There are only so many words that function alongside blame and which start with a or i.
As far as I can tell, you're looking for the phrase assign blame.
However, I should note that it doesn't necessarily mean deflect or divert—although it can certainly be used to accomplish that purpose.
In your example sentence:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of assigning blame to the players...
add a comment |
to pass the buck
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of passing the buck to the players.
From Collins English Dictionary:
to shift blame or responsibility onto another
This expression fits the original sentence better than "scapegoating" or "implicating". "Assigning" and "incriminating", while plausible, do not convey the idea of deflecting blame from one entity to another.
"Passing the buck" is more widely used in everyday English (American and British, written and spoken) than "blame-shifting", which is probably a psychological neologism describing a specific behavioural symptom (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
However, while "passing the buck" does occur frequently in highbrow journalistic writing (e.g. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-is-passing-the-buck-over-fan-violence-wgsj36txp), it is informal, and should not be used in official documents or academic writing.
New contributor
add a comment |
There are multiple words and phrases you can use. Redirect blame or as Mari Lou said, shift blame (or blame-shifting). They both basically mean the same, but I would say blame-shifting has connotations that fit more with what you're looking for.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/shift-the-blame-responsibility-onto-somebody
Though this dictionary isn't as well established as other dictionaries, this at least shows that the example exists in one. It is a phrase, so it makes sense that it doesn't exist in every dictionary, especially those who focus more on words.
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
add a comment |
Following @Mari-Lou A 's suggestion of the compound noun 'blame-shifting' I would suggest the compound noun 'blame-deflection' for two reasons.
- 'Shifting' is not quite the same concept as 'deflection'. Deflection, in the context of blame, is a well documented psychological technique and, as such, the wording should be preserved.
Deflection draws attention to the act of avoidance, rather than the end process of the 'shift', which is actually the outcome of deflection.
- 'Deflection of blame' is such an idiomatic phrase that it's concept is best expressed by retaining its exact wording, but in compound form.
Deflection of Blame - nation.com
add a comment |
In a sports context, I would have to go with punt. From the Oxford English Dictionary (unfortunately paywalled, but the intransitive version of this sense is also quoted in this answer to Can “to punt something” mean “not to do something”?):
punt, v.3
4. N. Amer. colloq.
a. intransitive. To give up, back out; to defer or avoid taking action or responsibility, to ‘pass the buck’.
[Attestations omitted]
b. transitive. To avoid, defer, or give up on. Also: to pass responsibility for (something) to.
- 1969 Cook County (Illinois) Herald 21 May 2/6 So the board decided to punt the matter over to Dist. 54.
- 1972 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 10 Sept. 16/3 What is your favorite football play?.. I think I'll punt that question.
- 1983 G. Steele et al. Hacker's Dict. 106 Let's punt the movie tonight.
- 2005 L. LeffBuried by Times viii. 258 A divided State Department punted the issue to Treasury.
This meaning, of course, developed from the practice in rugby and American football of dropping a ball and then kicking it before it hits the ground, when the player has given up on any chance of actually scoring. So you can add cross-sport insult to injury by saying:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of punting to the players...
add a comment |
Throw under the bus
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of throwing players under the bus...
New contributor
add a comment |
Scapegoat.
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of setting up the players as scapegoats...”
or, somewhat less commonly used,
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...”
New contributor
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sabir Aden is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f485330%2fwhats-a-word-that-means-deflect-blame%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Scapegoating
The practice of singling out a person or group for unmerited blame and consequent negative treatment (From Wiki link above)
In your context:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
add a comment |
Scapegoating
The practice of singling out a person or group for unmerited blame and consequent negative treatment (From Wiki link above)
In your context:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
add a comment |
Scapegoating
The practice of singling out a person or group for unmerited blame and consequent negative treatment (From Wiki link above)
In your context:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...
Scapegoating
The practice of singling out a person or group for unmerited blame and consequent negative treatment (From Wiki link above)
In your context:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...
answered 14 hours ago
ChronocidalChronocidal
3714
3714
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
add a comment |
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
1
1
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
This is the most common native English word for when one responsible party deflects blame towards another party. If "deflect" was the wrong choice in the question, then you might want to look at "implicate", e.g. "he was implicated in the robbery by witnesses". All the other responses seem clunky and inelegant to me.
– ajrwhite
13 hours ago
1
1
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
@ajrwhite "Implicate" is already in an answer as "Implicating" because that form was the best fit for the sample sentence.
– Pam
12 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
Yes I saw that. It suits the question in some ways, but the idea of "deflecting" is much closer to "scapegoating". The question itself is a bit confusing, as it's asking for a word which I don't think exists (or at least isn't in common usage).
– ajrwhite
11 hours ago
add a comment |
Implicating
From American Heritage:
To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly
or Incriminating
To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate
(Again from American Heritage)
I have to change your sentence slightly to:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of incriminating the players.
This would mean they had a way of making it look like the players were wrong and thus shift the blame for any wrong doing on to the players.
add a comment |
Implicating
From American Heritage:
To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly
or Incriminating
To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate
(Again from American Heritage)
I have to change your sentence slightly to:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of incriminating the players.
This would mean they had a way of making it look like the players were wrong and thus shift the blame for any wrong doing on to the players.
add a comment |
Implicating
From American Heritage:
To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly
or Incriminating
To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate
(Again from American Heritage)
I have to change your sentence slightly to:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of incriminating the players.
This would mean they had a way of making it look like the players were wrong and thus shift the blame for any wrong doing on to the players.
Implicating
From American Heritage:
To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly
or Incriminating
To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate
(Again from American Heritage)
I have to change your sentence slightly to:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of incriminating the players.
This would mean they had a way of making it look like the players were wrong and thus shift the blame for any wrong doing on to the players.
answered 15 hours ago
PamPam
3,9421629
3,9421629
add a comment |
add a comment |
There are only so many words that function alongside blame and which start with a or i.
As far as I can tell, you're looking for the phrase assign blame.
However, I should note that it doesn't necessarily mean deflect or divert—although it can certainly be used to accomplish that purpose.
In your example sentence:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of assigning blame to the players...
add a comment |
There are only so many words that function alongside blame and which start with a or i.
As far as I can tell, you're looking for the phrase assign blame.
However, I should note that it doesn't necessarily mean deflect or divert—although it can certainly be used to accomplish that purpose.
In your example sentence:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of assigning blame to the players...
add a comment |
There are only so many words that function alongside blame and which start with a or i.
As far as I can tell, you're looking for the phrase assign blame.
However, I should note that it doesn't necessarily mean deflect or divert—although it can certainly be used to accomplish that purpose.
In your example sentence:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of assigning blame to the players...
There are only so many words that function alongside blame and which start with a or i.
As far as I can tell, you're looking for the phrase assign blame.
However, I should note that it doesn't necessarily mean deflect or divert—although it can certainly be used to accomplish that purpose.
In your example sentence:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of assigning blame to the players...
answered 20 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
17k32042
17k32042
add a comment |
add a comment |
to pass the buck
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of passing the buck to the players.
From Collins English Dictionary:
to shift blame or responsibility onto another
This expression fits the original sentence better than "scapegoating" or "implicating". "Assigning" and "incriminating", while plausible, do not convey the idea of deflecting blame from one entity to another.
"Passing the buck" is more widely used in everyday English (American and British, written and spoken) than "blame-shifting", which is probably a psychological neologism describing a specific behavioural symptom (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
However, while "passing the buck" does occur frequently in highbrow journalistic writing (e.g. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-is-passing-the-buck-over-fan-violence-wgsj36txp), it is informal, and should not be used in official documents or academic writing.
New contributor
add a comment |
to pass the buck
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of passing the buck to the players.
From Collins English Dictionary:
to shift blame or responsibility onto another
This expression fits the original sentence better than "scapegoating" or "implicating". "Assigning" and "incriminating", while plausible, do not convey the idea of deflecting blame from one entity to another.
"Passing the buck" is more widely used in everyday English (American and British, written and spoken) than "blame-shifting", which is probably a psychological neologism describing a specific behavioural symptom (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
However, while "passing the buck" does occur frequently in highbrow journalistic writing (e.g. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-is-passing-the-buck-over-fan-violence-wgsj36txp), it is informal, and should not be used in official documents or academic writing.
New contributor
add a comment |
to pass the buck
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of passing the buck to the players.
From Collins English Dictionary:
to shift blame or responsibility onto another
This expression fits the original sentence better than "scapegoating" or "implicating". "Assigning" and "incriminating", while plausible, do not convey the idea of deflecting blame from one entity to another.
"Passing the buck" is more widely used in everyday English (American and British, written and spoken) than "blame-shifting", which is probably a psychological neologism describing a specific behavioural symptom (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
However, while "passing the buck" does occur frequently in highbrow journalistic writing (e.g. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-is-passing-the-buck-over-fan-violence-wgsj36txp), it is informal, and should not be used in official documents or academic writing.
New contributor
to pass the buck
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of passing the buck to the players.
From Collins English Dictionary:
to shift blame or responsibility onto another
This expression fits the original sentence better than "scapegoating" or "implicating". "Assigning" and "incriminating", while plausible, do not convey the idea of deflecting blame from one entity to another.
"Passing the buck" is more widely used in everyday English (American and British, written and spoken) than "blame-shifting", which is probably a psychological neologism describing a specific behavioural symptom (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection).
However, while "passing the buck" does occur frequently in highbrow journalistic writing (e.g. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-is-passing-the-buck-over-fan-violence-wgsj36txp), it is informal, and should not be used in official documents or academic writing.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 11 hours ago
ajrwhiteajrwhite
1593
1593
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
There are multiple words and phrases you can use. Redirect blame or as Mari Lou said, shift blame (or blame-shifting). They both basically mean the same, but I would say blame-shifting has connotations that fit more with what you're looking for.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/shift-the-blame-responsibility-onto-somebody
Though this dictionary isn't as well established as other dictionaries, this at least shows that the example exists in one. It is a phrase, so it makes sense that it doesn't exist in every dictionary, especially those who focus more on words.
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
add a comment |
There are multiple words and phrases you can use. Redirect blame or as Mari Lou said, shift blame (or blame-shifting). They both basically mean the same, but I would say blame-shifting has connotations that fit more with what you're looking for.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/shift-the-blame-responsibility-onto-somebody
Though this dictionary isn't as well established as other dictionaries, this at least shows that the example exists in one. It is a phrase, so it makes sense that it doesn't exist in every dictionary, especially those who focus more on words.
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
add a comment |
There are multiple words and phrases you can use. Redirect blame or as Mari Lou said, shift blame (or blame-shifting). They both basically mean the same, but I would say blame-shifting has connotations that fit more with what you're looking for.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/shift-the-blame-responsibility-onto-somebody
Though this dictionary isn't as well established as other dictionaries, this at least shows that the example exists in one. It is a phrase, so it makes sense that it doesn't exist in every dictionary, especially those who focus more on words.
There are multiple words and phrases you can use. Redirect blame or as Mari Lou said, shift blame (or blame-shifting). They both basically mean the same, but I would say blame-shifting has connotations that fit more with what you're looking for.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/shift-the-blame-responsibility-onto-somebody
Though this dictionary isn't as well established as other dictionaries, this at least shows that the example exists in one. It is a phrase, so it makes sense that it doesn't exist in every dictionary, especially those who focus more on words.
answered 19 hours ago
A. KvåleA. Kvåle
9061415
9061415
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
add a comment |
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
1
1
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/blame+shifting
– Mari-Lou A
18 hours ago
1
1
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
I don't think "blame-shifting" is widely used in everyday parlance. As a native (British) English speaker, I've never heard it, although would of course understand it immediately. When you Google it, the context seems to be mainly psychology, describing a behavioural symptom of narcissism, sociopathy, and so on. I don't think it's the most appropriate choice for the less pathological behaviour being described in the original post, although it may simply depend on the preference and academic background of the speaker.
– ajrwhite
10 hours ago
add a comment |
Following @Mari-Lou A 's suggestion of the compound noun 'blame-shifting' I would suggest the compound noun 'blame-deflection' for two reasons.
- 'Shifting' is not quite the same concept as 'deflection'. Deflection, in the context of blame, is a well documented psychological technique and, as such, the wording should be preserved.
Deflection draws attention to the act of avoidance, rather than the end process of the 'shift', which is actually the outcome of deflection.
- 'Deflection of blame' is such an idiomatic phrase that it's concept is best expressed by retaining its exact wording, but in compound form.
Deflection of Blame - nation.com
add a comment |
Following @Mari-Lou A 's suggestion of the compound noun 'blame-shifting' I would suggest the compound noun 'blame-deflection' for two reasons.
- 'Shifting' is not quite the same concept as 'deflection'. Deflection, in the context of blame, is a well documented psychological technique and, as such, the wording should be preserved.
Deflection draws attention to the act of avoidance, rather than the end process of the 'shift', which is actually the outcome of deflection.
- 'Deflection of blame' is such an idiomatic phrase that it's concept is best expressed by retaining its exact wording, but in compound form.
Deflection of Blame - nation.com
add a comment |
Following @Mari-Lou A 's suggestion of the compound noun 'blame-shifting' I would suggest the compound noun 'blame-deflection' for two reasons.
- 'Shifting' is not quite the same concept as 'deflection'. Deflection, in the context of blame, is a well documented psychological technique and, as such, the wording should be preserved.
Deflection draws attention to the act of avoidance, rather than the end process of the 'shift', which is actually the outcome of deflection.
- 'Deflection of blame' is such an idiomatic phrase that it's concept is best expressed by retaining its exact wording, but in compound form.
Deflection of Blame - nation.com
Following @Mari-Lou A 's suggestion of the compound noun 'blame-shifting' I would suggest the compound noun 'blame-deflection' for two reasons.
- 'Shifting' is not quite the same concept as 'deflection'. Deflection, in the context of blame, is a well documented psychological technique and, as such, the wording should be preserved.
Deflection draws attention to the act of avoidance, rather than the end process of the 'shift', which is actually the outcome of deflection.
- 'Deflection of blame' is such an idiomatic phrase that it's concept is best expressed by retaining its exact wording, but in compound form.
Deflection of Blame - nation.com
edited 11 hours ago
answered 11 hours ago
Nigel JNigel J
17.2k94584
17.2k94584
add a comment |
add a comment |
In a sports context, I would have to go with punt. From the Oxford English Dictionary (unfortunately paywalled, but the intransitive version of this sense is also quoted in this answer to Can “to punt something” mean “not to do something”?):
punt, v.3
4. N. Amer. colloq.
a. intransitive. To give up, back out; to defer or avoid taking action or responsibility, to ‘pass the buck’.
[Attestations omitted]
b. transitive. To avoid, defer, or give up on. Also: to pass responsibility for (something) to.
- 1969 Cook County (Illinois) Herald 21 May 2/6 So the board decided to punt the matter over to Dist. 54.
- 1972 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 10 Sept. 16/3 What is your favorite football play?.. I think I'll punt that question.
- 1983 G. Steele et al. Hacker's Dict. 106 Let's punt the movie tonight.
- 2005 L. LeffBuried by Times viii. 258 A divided State Department punted the issue to Treasury.
This meaning, of course, developed from the practice in rugby and American football of dropping a ball and then kicking it before it hits the ground, when the player has given up on any chance of actually scoring. So you can add cross-sport insult to injury by saying:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of punting to the players...
add a comment |
In a sports context, I would have to go with punt. From the Oxford English Dictionary (unfortunately paywalled, but the intransitive version of this sense is also quoted in this answer to Can “to punt something” mean “not to do something”?):
punt, v.3
4. N. Amer. colloq.
a. intransitive. To give up, back out; to defer or avoid taking action or responsibility, to ‘pass the buck’.
[Attestations omitted]
b. transitive. To avoid, defer, or give up on. Also: to pass responsibility for (something) to.
- 1969 Cook County (Illinois) Herald 21 May 2/6 So the board decided to punt the matter over to Dist. 54.
- 1972 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 10 Sept. 16/3 What is your favorite football play?.. I think I'll punt that question.
- 1983 G. Steele et al. Hacker's Dict. 106 Let's punt the movie tonight.
- 2005 L. LeffBuried by Times viii. 258 A divided State Department punted the issue to Treasury.
This meaning, of course, developed from the practice in rugby and American football of dropping a ball and then kicking it before it hits the ground, when the player has given up on any chance of actually scoring. So you can add cross-sport insult to injury by saying:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of punting to the players...
add a comment |
In a sports context, I would have to go with punt. From the Oxford English Dictionary (unfortunately paywalled, but the intransitive version of this sense is also quoted in this answer to Can “to punt something” mean “not to do something”?):
punt, v.3
4. N. Amer. colloq.
a. intransitive. To give up, back out; to defer or avoid taking action or responsibility, to ‘pass the buck’.
[Attestations omitted]
b. transitive. To avoid, defer, or give up on. Also: to pass responsibility for (something) to.
- 1969 Cook County (Illinois) Herald 21 May 2/6 So the board decided to punt the matter over to Dist. 54.
- 1972 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 10 Sept. 16/3 What is your favorite football play?.. I think I'll punt that question.
- 1983 G. Steele et al. Hacker's Dict. 106 Let's punt the movie tonight.
- 2005 L. LeffBuried by Times viii. 258 A divided State Department punted the issue to Treasury.
This meaning, of course, developed from the practice in rugby and American football of dropping a ball and then kicking it before it hits the ground, when the player has given up on any chance of actually scoring. So you can add cross-sport insult to injury by saying:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of punting to the players...
In a sports context, I would have to go with punt. From the Oxford English Dictionary (unfortunately paywalled, but the intransitive version of this sense is also quoted in this answer to Can “to punt something” mean “not to do something”?):
punt, v.3
4. N. Amer. colloq.
a. intransitive. To give up, back out; to defer or avoid taking action or responsibility, to ‘pass the buck’.
[Attestations omitted]
b. transitive. To avoid, defer, or give up on. Also: to pass responsibility for (something) to.
- 1969 Cook County (Illinois) Herald 21 May 2/6 So the board decided to punt the matter over to Dist. 54.
- 1972 Odessa (Texas) Amer. 10 Sept. 16/3 What is your favorite football play?.. I think I'll punt that question.
- 1983 G. Steele et al. Hacker's Dict. 106 Let's punt the movie tonight.
- 2005 L. LeffBuried by Times viii. 258 A divided State Department punted the issue to Treasury.
This meaning, of course, developed from the practice in rugby and American football of dropping a ball and then kicking it before it hits the ground, when the player has given up on any chance of actually scoring. So you can add cross-sport insult to injury by saying:
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of punting to the players...
answered 5 hours ago
1006a1006a
20.9k33887
20.9k33887
add a comment |
add a comment |
Throw under the bus
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of throwing players under the bus...
New contributor
add a comment |
Throw under the bus
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of throwing players under the bus...
New contributor
add a comment |
Throw under the bus
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of throwing players under the bus...
New contributor
Throw under the bus
The Yankees Management had instituted a way of throwing players under the bus...
New contributor
New contributor
answered 3 hours ago
Brian C SparksBrian C Sparks
111
111
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Scapegoat.
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of setting up the players as scapegoats...”
or, somewhat less commonly used,
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...”
New contributor
add a comment |
Scapegoat.
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of setting up the players as scapegoats...”
or, somewhat less commonly used,
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...”
New contributor
add a comment |
Scapegoat.
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of setting up the players as scapegoats...”
or, somewhat less commonly used,
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...”
New contributor
Scapegoat.
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of setting up the players as scapegoats...”
or, somewhat less commonly used,
“The Yankees Management had instituted a way of scapegoating the players...”
New contributor
New contributor
answered 13 hours ago
J SmithJ Smith
21
21
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Sabir Aden is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sabir Aden is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sabir Aden is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sabir Aden is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f485330%2fwhats-a-word-that-means-deflect-blame%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
2
Perhaps you're looking for "redirect blame"?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
6
The compound noun blame-shifting fits here.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
1
Yes, @Mari-LouA 's alternative seems more common and used for this purpose. Perhaps you should make your comment an answer?
– A. Kvåle
19 hours ago
@A.Kvåle if you think that could be a useful answer, feel free to post it but please include a dictionary reference as well.
– Mari-Lou A
19 hours ago
2
Scapegoating doesn’t quite fit the example sentence as written.
– Ian MacDonald
14 hours ago