pin the blame on

idiomatic phrase

: to assign (someone) the blame for something
When he got caught, he tried to pin the blame on someone else.
Eventually, researchers and governments did definitively pin the blame for that incident on the Russian government …Patrick Howell O'Neill

Examples of pin the blame on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lula’s initial pronouncement that Brazil would respond in kind was seen favorably among his supporters, though the opposition and many in the media pinned the blame on Lula for not being able to forge compromise with the Trump administration. Rafael R. Ioris, The Conversation, 14 July 2025 Speaking to Reuters, Khalid warned against pinning the blame on the pilots. Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 12 July 2025 The mayor chose not to do so, preferring to pin the blame on outside forces. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2025 Both parties will pin the blame on the other — and some of that is already happening. Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pin the blame on

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pin the blame on was in 1892

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Cite this Entry

“Pin the blame on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pin%20the%20blame%20on. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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