[carry] the can
1
to be brave and responsible enough to accept all the consequences of one's or others' unpleasant deeds
The idiom "carry the can" has its origins in British slang from the early 20th century. "Can" in this context refers to a container, and carrying it metaphorically signifies taking responsibility or bearing the blame for a particular situation or action. It is used to refer to someone who is held accountable for something, whether it's their fault or not.
- Even though it wasn't entirely his fault, he had to carry the can for the project's failure.
- In the end, the manager had to carry the can for the team's poor performance.
- The scapegoat often ends up carrying the can for the mistakes made by the entire organization.
- She took it upon herself to carry the can for the misunderstanding and apologized to her friend.
- The government officials are trying to avoid carrying the can for the controversial decision, shifting the blame to others.
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