Meaning of carry the can | Babel Free

Definitions

To take responsibility, especially in a challenging situation.

British, Canada, idiomatic

Examples

“For Vajpayee, who is keen that he alone does not carry the can for his unwieldy alliance, it is a tough decision.”

“You could reasonably argue that Brown himself should carry the can for much of the regulatory failure of the banks.”

“They're not going to play the patsy where they carry the can for all the woes caused by a tanking in oil prices that's already happened.”

CEFR level