1 C1 idiomatic informal
To transfer blame or responsibility to another person unfairly.
"Don't try to put it off on me — you were the one who forgot to send the email."
inseparable
put it off on
C1 informal inseparable transitive
To shift blame, responsibility, or a task onto someone else.
In plain English
To say that something is someone else's fault or to make someone else deal with your problem.
What does "put it off on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To make someone else do a task that is rightfully your own.
"She always puts it off on the junior staff instead of doing the paperwork herself."
inseparable
Usage tip
Primarily American English, especially in Southern and Midwestern dialects. Considered informal or colloquial. Not common in formal speech or writing.
Words that pair with "put it off on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
blame fault responsibility mistake problem mess
How to conjugate "put it off on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
put it off on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
puts it off on
he/she/it
Past simple
put it off on
yesterday
Past participle
put it off on
have + pp
-ing form
putting it off on
continuous
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