甩锅

甩鍋

shuǎiguō

verb

Meanings

1 to pass the blame
2 to shift responsibility
3 to throw the pot (slang)

Characters

to throw; to fling

pot; wok; blame (slang)

Literally 'throw the pot' — flinging blame at someone else

Examples

出了问题他就甩锅给别人。

Chū le wèntí tā jiù shuǎiguō gěi biérén.

Whenever there's a problem, he shifts the blame to others.

别甩锅了，这明明是你的责任。

Bié shuǎiguō le, zhè míngmíng shì nǐ de zérèn.

Stop passing the blame; this is clearly your responsibility.

他甩锅的本事比干活的本事大。

Tā shuǎiguō de běnshi bǐ gànhuó de běnshi dà.

He's better at passing blame than at doing actual work.

Tips

memory

Picture someone literally throwing a hot pot (锅) at someone else — that's the blame being tossed. The opposite is 背锅 (carrying the pot = taking the blame).

usage

甩锅 and 背锅 are a pair: one throws the blame, the other catches it. Very common in workplace and political discussions.

Stroke Order

甩 shuǎi

锅 guō