hold responsible
يحمل المسؤولية
Use it when you need to clearly identify who is answerable for a specific outcome or mistake.
في 15 ثانية
- Assigning blame or duty to a specific person or group.
- Expecting someone to answer for a mistake or a failure.
- Commonly used in legal, professional, and serious personal contexts.
المعنى
To decide that someone is the one to blame if something goes wrong. It means you expect them to fix the problem or face the consequences.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6A business meeting about a failed launch
We need to hold the marketing team responsible for the low sales numbers.
We need to hold the marketing team responsible for the low sales numbers.
Talking to a roommate about bills
I'm holding you responsible for the late fee since you forgot to mail the check.
I'm holding you responsible for the late fee since you forgot to mail the check.
A legal dispute over a car accident
The court will hold the driver responsible for all damages to the property.
The court will hold the driver responsible for all damages to the property.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase is deeply rooted in the Western legal concept of liability. It became a staple of political discourse in the 20th century as voters demanded more transparency from leaders. In the US and UK, 'holding someone's feet to the fire' is a more aggressive, idiomatic way to express this same sentiment.
The 'For' Connection
Always remember to use 'for' after the person. It's 'Hold [Person] Responsible FOR [Action]'.
Don't Overuse It
Using this for every small mistake makes you sound like a strict boss. Save it for things that actually matter.
في 15 ثانية
- Assigning blame or duty to a specific person or group.
- Expecting someone to answer for a mistake or a failure.
- Commonly used in legal, professional, and serious personal contexts.
What It Means
To hold responsible is to point a finger at someone for a specific outcome. It is not just about blaming them. It is about saying, "You are the one who must answer for this." If you hold someone responsible, you expect them to take the heat. It is like being the captain of a ship. If the ship hits an iceberg, the captain is the one we look to. Even if they weren't steering, they are the one in charge.
How To Use It
You usually use it with a person or an organization. The structure is hold [someone] responsible for [something]. For example, "I hold the chef responsible for this salty soup." You can also use it in the passive voice. "The manager was held responsible for the lost keys." It sounds strong and firm. It is not a weak or shy phrase. Use it when you want to be clear about who is at fault.
When To Use It
Use this in professional settings when a project fails. Use it at home when your roommate forgets to pay the electricity bill. It is great for legal or serious discussions. If a company leaks your data, you hold them responsible. It is also useful in friendships. If a friend breaks a promise, you might hold them responsible for the hurt feelings. It shows you have standards for how people should act.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for tiny, accidental mistakes that do not matter. If a friend accidentally sneezes, do not say, "I hold you responsible for this noise." That sounds like a robot or a villain in a movie. Avoid it in very relaxed, cozy moments. It can feel a bit cold or accusatory. If you want to be gentle, use "It was your fault" instead. Hold responsible implies a level of duty or obligation.
Cultural Background
In many English-speaking cultures, individual accountability is a big deal. People love to know exactly who is in charge. This phrase comes from the idea of "holding" a debt or a burden. If you hold the responsibility, you are carrying the weight of the action. It is a cornerstone of Western legal and business systems. It reflects a culture that values clear roles and consequences for actions.
Common Variations
You might hear hold accountable, which is almost the same but feels even more formal. There is also the buck stops here. That is a famous American idiom meaning the same thing. You might also hear take responsibility. That is the opposite side of the coin. That is when you admit the fault yourself. Hold responsible is always about looking at someone else.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase sits in the 'neutral to formal' range. It is perfectly fine for a workplace email or a serious conversation with a partner, but it might feel too heavy for light banter.
The 'For' Connection
Always remember to use 'for' after the person. It's 'Hold [Person] Responsible FOR [Action]'.
Don't Overuse It
Using this for every small mistake makes you sound like a strict boss. Save it for things that actually matter.
The Passive Voice
In news reports, you'll often hear 'He was held responsible.' This is a way to sound objective and serious.
أمثلة
6We need to hold the marketing team responsible for the low sales numbers.
We need to hold the marketing team responsible for the low sales numbers.
Professional and direct, focusing on a specific department.
I'm holding you responsible for the late fee since you forgot to mail the check.
I'm holding you responsible for the late fee since you forgot to mail the check.
Firm but necessary for household boundaries.
The court will hold the driver responsible for all damages to the property.
The court will hold the driver responsible for all damages to the property.
Very formal and legally binding context.
If we starve at this picnic, I'm holding you responsible!
If we starve at this picnic, I'm holding you responsible!
Using a serious phrase for a lighthearted situation.
I can't hold myself responsible for your happiness anymore.
I can't hold myself responsible for your happiness anymore.
Emotional and personal boundary setting.
I hold the manufacturer responsible for this defect.
I hold the manufacturer responsible for this defect.
Assertive tone used when dealing with customer service.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to show who is at fault for the missed deadline.
The manager decided to ___ the lead developer responsible for the delay.
The standard collocation is 'hold responsible'.
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
Parents are often held responsible ___ their children's actions in public.
We use 'for' to indicate the thing or action the person is answering for.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Hold Responsible'
Used jokingly among friends.
I hold you responsible for this bad movie choice!
Common in daily life and work.
I hold him responsible for the broken vase.
Used in legal and official statements.
The corporation was held responsible for the spill.
When to Use 'Hold Responsible'
Workplace
Project failures or missed goals.
Legal
Determining liability in court.
Relationships
Setting boundaries with friends.
Parenting
Teaching kids about consequences.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIt means you consider someone to be the cause of a situation and expect them to deal with the results. For example, I hold you responsible for the mess.
It's similar, but 'hold responsible' is more formal and implies a duty or obligation. Blame is just about who did it; responsibility is about who has to fix it.
Usually, no. We use it for negative outcomes. For good things, we say give credit to or make someone responsible for the success.
Yes, but it sounds a bit serious. If you use it for something small, like a bad joke, it comes across as sarcastic or funny.
The most common way is: Subject + hold + object + responsible + for + noun. Example: The teacher held the class responsible for the noise.
'Accountable' is even more formal and is often used in politics or high-level business. Hold responsible is more common in everyday English.
Absolutely. It means you are admitting it was your fault. I hold myself responsible for the mistake.
Yes, it is used exactly the same way in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.
Forgetting the 'for'. Don't say I hold him responsible the accident. You must say responsible FOR the accident.
Yes, non-human entities like companies, governments, or groups are frequently 'held responsible' in news and law.
عبارات ذات صلة
Hold accountable
To require someone to explain their actions or decisions.
Take the fall
To accept the blame for something, often to protect someone else.
Point the finger
To accuse someone of doing something wrong.
At fault
Being the person who caused a mistake or accident.
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