at fault

Idioms  

1. Responsible for a mistake, trouble, or failure; deserving blame. For example, At least three cars were involved in the accident, so it was hard to determine which driver was at fault, or He kept missing the target and wondered if the sight on his new rifle was at fault. In Britain this usage was formerly considered incorrect but is now acceptable; in America it has been widespread since the mid-1800s. Also see in the wrong.

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Example Sentences

“Are you at fault if a fire is lit because of your cigarettes?” wrote the Uber driver, then 29.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Ms. Hochul also won modest auto insurance reforms that restrict damages for individuals found mostly at fault for crashes, capping payouts at $100,000 for those driving uninsured, impaired or after committing a felony.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

"This incident went beyond the question of whether individual employees were at fault and exposed a lack of social and historical sensitivity within Starbucks Korea," he said.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Antonelli accepted he was at fault for that, saying: "I was definitely too optimistic. I also took a massive bump and I almost spun in a straight line so also that induced the lock-up."

From BBC • May 23, 2026

It isn’t Daniel’s fault, of course; who’s at fault is a mystery.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers