ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be to blame

fixed phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

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

fixed phr.. to be responsible for a fault or a negative outcome; functions as a predicative adjective phrase following the copula 'be'.


SIMPLE

The driver was to blame for the accident.

CONTEXTUAL

Experts say that poor maintenance is to blame for the sudden power failure in the city.

COMPLEX

While the CEO resigned, many analysts argue that the board of directors is equally to blame for the company's financial collapse.

Usage

usually used in the pattern 'be to blame for [something]' or 'be to blame for [doing something]'.

Teaching tip

point out that this phrase uses an active infinitive ('to blame') with a passive meaning ('to be blamed'); it is more common in speech than the formal 'be responsible for'.

Pitfall

He is to blame of the mistake.He is to blame for the mistake.the preposition 'for' must be used to connect the blame to the specific cause or event.

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