carry the can

/ˌkæri ðə ˈkæn/INFORMAL · C1

Meaning

to take the blame for something that went wrong

Examples

1The junior designer carried the can for a decision she never made.
2Somebody always has to carry the can when a delivery goes missing.
3Tom carried the can for the whole department, and the manager said nothing.
4Why should the volunteers carry the can for a council decision?
5Is she really carrying the can for a mistake made three floors up?

Grammar

Only carry changes form. Keep the can fixed and singular; what you are blamed for follows for.

Similar in meaning

pass the buck get the sack

More idioms about work and careers

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

pull stringsto use your influence secretly to help someone the rat racethe exhausting competition of modern working life keep your nose to the grindstoneto keep working hard without stopping call it a dayto stop working for now learn the ropesto learn how a job is done pull your weightto do your fair share of the work

English Idioms

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