A: I will take a vacation starting next week. Can you follow up our joint project with the new gallery? B: You were the one who took on this job. Don’t try to pass the buck. Note: This phrase means to “avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.” The word “buck” refers to an article used in a game of poker. Poker became very popular in the United States during the second half of the 19th century. In order to avoid unfairness the dealer changed during the game. The person next in line to deal would be given a marker. This was often a knife, and knives often had handles made of buck’s horn — hence the marker becoming known as a buck. When the dealer’s turn was done he “passed the buck.” The best-known use of “buck” in this sense is “The buck stops here,” a promise by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. |