| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | blamer, from Late Latin blasphemare; BLASPHEME |
| |||||||||
blame1 S2 W3
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad :
Don't blame me - it's not my fault.
I blame his mother. She does everything for him.
Don't blame me - it's not my fault.
I blame his mother. She does everything for him. blame somebody/something for something
Marie still blames herself for Patrick's death.
The report blames poor safety standards for the accident.
Marie still blames herself for Patrick's death.
The report blames poor safety standards for the accident. blame something on somebody/something
One of the computers is broken and she's blaming it on me.
The crash was blamed on pilot error.
One of the computers is broken and she's blaming it on me.
The crash was blamed on pilot error.2 used to say that someone or something is responsible for something bad :
Officials believe that more than one person may be to blame for the fire.
somebody/something is to blame (for something)
Officials believe that more than one person may be to blame for the fire.3 used to say that you think it was right or reasonable for someone to do what they did :
'She's left her husband.' 'I don't blame her, after the way he treated her.'
You can hardly blame him for not waiting.
I don't blame you/you can hardly blame him etc
spoken
'She's left her husband.' 'I don't blame her, after the way he treated her.'
You can hardly blame him for not waiting.4 used when you are advising someone not to do something but you think that they will do it in spite of your advice :
Buy it then, but don't blame me when it breaks down.
don't blame me
spoken
Buy it then, but don't blame me when it breaks down.5 used to say that someone's problems are their own fault :
If he fails his exams, he'll only have himself to blame.
somebody only has himself/herself to blame
spoken
If he fails his exams, he'll only have himself to blame.