ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be to blame for sth

idiom.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

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

idiom. to be responsible for a negative outcome or fault; functions as a predicative expression of culpability.


SIMPLE

The heavy rain is to blame for the flood.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager said that poor communication was to blame for the project's failure.

COMPLEX

While many analysts argue that the central bank is to blame for the inflation, others point toward global supply chain disruptions.

Usage

usually used with 'something' (sth) as the subject or the object of the preposition 'for'.

Teaching tip

this structure is a passive-like construction using the active infinitive; it is more common in speech than the formal 'to be responsible for'.

Pitfall

He is to blame of the accident.He is to blame for the accident.the preposition 'for' must follow 'blame' when identifying the cause.

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