lay at someone's door
To blame (a problem) on someone; to hold someone responsible for (something).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The team lays the failure at the manager's door.”
“Although the project failed due to many factors, the board decided to lay the blame at the director's door.”
“Historians often lay the responsibility for the economic collapse at the door of the government, citing their poor decision-making during the crisis.”
disputed origin
Alludes to someone laying incriminating evidence at the door of a guilty person, perhaps during the night. Compare lie at someone's door.
- 01
a wild goose never laid a tame egg
Most things are inherited and predetermined.
- 02
another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
- 03
answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 04
answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 05
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 06
bane of someone's existence
Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.
- 07
bang down the door
To present oneself as a strong candidate for a role or achievement, explicitly or implicitly.
- 08
bash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
Last updated August 10, 2026