English Reference
Idiom idiom

be to blame


to be the person or thing that caused something bad to happen.


SIMPLE

“I broke the vase, so I am to blame.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The project failed because of poor planning, and the manager knows he is to blame for the mistakes.”

COMPLEX

“While the storm caused significant damage, the city council is to blame for failing to maintain the aging infrastructure before the disaster struck.”

Last updated April 22, 2026