carry the can

1. Take responsibility or accept blame, as in Joan felt she was always carrying the can for her boss's errors. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Alison Downes, director of pressure group Stop Sizewell C, said: "This much-delayed final investment decision has only crawled over the line thanks to guarantees that the public purse, not private investors, will carry the can for the inevitable cost overruns."

From BBC

Once again the Royal Free's A&E is being left to carry the can for another agency.

From BBC

Leishman added: "There's a lot of people who have got to carry the can for this but we really, in government now, should be doing an awful lot more."

From BBC

Murray said Chancellor Rachel Reeves had been clear that there would be no return to austerity, and that those "with the broadest shoulders" would "carry the can in terms of trying to help us out of this situation".

From BBC

That may give them more autonomy to make decisions to deliver on these targets, but on the flip side it likely means they will have to carry the can for any issues in their portfolio.

From BBC