carry the can
idiom
British, informal
: to accept blame or responsibility for something that one did not cause
He made the error, but she was left to carry the can.
Taxpayers will carry the can for the renovations.
Examples of carry the can in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whistleblowers will continue to carry the can alone unless member states demand the U.N. implement 21st century protections and act on issues raised.
—
Ben Evansky, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2021
But directors always have to carry the can for the failures.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 2 Sep. 2021
Yet sitting Presidents carry the can for their decisions, and the current commander in chief reversed many of Trump's other most controversial foreign policy strategies but stuck with the core principle of the withdrawal.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 30 Aug. 2021
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.
Ben Evansky, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2021
But directors always have to carry the can for the failures.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 2 Sep. 2021
Yet sitting Presidents carry the can for their decisions, and the current commander in chief reversed many of Trump's other most controversial foreign policy strategies but stuck with the core principle of the withdrawal.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 30 Aug. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near carry the can
Cite this Entry
“Carry the can.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carry%20the%20can. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share