blame

I UK [bleɪm] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "blame":
present tense I/you/we/they blame he/she/it blames present participle blaming past tense blamed past participle blamed
***

to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation

If it all goes wrong, don't blame me.

Crime is a complex issue – we can't simply blame poverty and unemployment.

blame something on someone/something:

You can't blame all your problems on your family.

blame someone/something for something:

Organizers blame the weather for the low turnout.

be to blame (for):

The hospital has launched an inquiry to find out who was to blame for the mistake.

•

I don't blame you/him/her/them — spoken used for saying that you understand why someone did something or feels a particular way

"Then I told him to leave." "I don't blame you!"

you have only (got) yourself to blame — to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation

He's only got himself to blame if no one will talk to him.

II UK [bleɪm] / US noun [uncountable] *

responsibility for an accident, problem, or bad situation

blame for:

The police don't deserve the blame for what happened to these children.

get the blame:

Why do I always get the blame for everything?

take the blame (= accept that you are responsible):

The management has to take part of the blame for recent failures.

put/lay the blame on someone:

Citizens are laying the blame on the government for acting too late.

a culture of blame (= a tendency to blame people instead of trying to solve problems):

We're trying to get rid of the company's culture of blame.