blame
To consider or state that someone or something is responsible for a mistake, failure, or negative situation. It involves attributing the cause of a problem to a specific person, group, or factor.
Examples
3 of 5Don't blame me for the broken window; I was playing outside all day.
Do not hold me responsible for the shattered glass; I was not indoors.
The official report blamed the railway accident on a technical failure in the signaling system.
The document identified a signal malfunction as the cause of the train crash.
He's always trying to blame his laziness on his busy schedule.
He constantly says his lack of effort is caused by his many commitments.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'B-L-A-M-E' as 'Bad Luck And Mistakes Everywhere'—whenever these occur, people usually start to blame someone.
Quick Quiz
The manager refused to ___ the team for the delay, noting that the external suppliers were late.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blame
Examples
Don't blame me for the broken window; I was playing outside all day.
everydayDo not hold me responsible for the shattered glass; I was not indoors.
The official report blamed the railway accident on a technical failure in the signaling system.
formalThe document identified a signal malfunction as the cause of the train crash.
He's always trying to blame his laziness on his busy schedule.
informalHe constantly says his lack of effort is caused by his many commitments.
Many economists blame the high inflation rates on the rapid expansion of the money supply.
academicExperts attribute the increase in prices to the growth of currency in circulation.
The CEO declined to blame the marketing department for the poor quarterly sales.
businessThe chief executive chose not to hold the marketing team accountable for the low revenue.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
the blame game
a situation where people try to blame each other for a failure instead of finding a solution
only have oneself to blame
to be the only person responsible for one's own misfortune
put the blame on someone
to identify someone as the person responsible for something bad
Often Confused With
Accuse is more formal and often refers to a crime or legal charge, while blame refers to responsibility for a general mistake or bad result.
As a verb, fault means to find a flaw in something; as a noun, it refers to the responsibility itself, whereas blame is the act of assigning that responsibility.
Usage Notes
Blame can be used with two different structures: you blame a person for a problem, or you blame a problem on a person. It is often used in the passive voice when the person responsible is widely recognized.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use the preposition 'to' with blame; remember that it is always 'blame for' or 'blame on'.
Memory Tip
Think of 'B-L-A-M-E' as 'Bad Luck And Mistakes Everywhere'—whenever these occur, people usually start to blame someone.
Word Origin
From the Old French 'blasmer', which originated from the Late Latin 'blasphemare', meaning to speak ill of or to blaspheme.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western business environments, modern management techniques advocate for a 'no-blame culture' to encourage honest reporting of errors without fear of punishment.
Quick Quiz
The manager refused to ___ the team for the delay, noting that the external suppliers were late.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blame
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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