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REFERENCE

lay at someone's door

idiom
Meaning

To blame (a problem) on someone; to hold someone responsible for (something).


Origin

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.

Examples
SIMPLE

The team lays the failure at the manager's door.

CONTEXTUAL

Although the project failed due to many factors, the board decided to lay the blame at the director's door.

COMPLEX

Historians often lay the responsibility for the economic collapse at the door of the government, citing their poor decision-making during the crisis.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  2. 02

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  3. 03

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  4. 04

    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.

  5. 05

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  6. 06

    bang down the door

    To present oneself as a strong candidate for a role or achievement, explicitly or implicitly.

  7. 07

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

  8. 08

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

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