shift off
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To push responsibility or blame onto someone else so you don't have to deal with it.
Literal meaning: To shift (move) something off yourself and onto someone or something else.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To transfer blame, responsibility, or an unwanted burden to another person.
"He tried to shift the blame off himself by pointing the finger at his colleagues."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Primarily used in British English. Often implies a negative action — avoiding one's own duties. Less common than 'pass off' or 'fob off' but encountered in informal conversation.
Commonly used with
blame responsibility guilt burden task problem
Forms
Base
shift off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shifts off
he/she/it
Past simple
shifted off
yesterday
Past participle
shifted off
have + pp
-ing form
shifting off
continuous
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