to blame

IPA/tə blˈeɪm/
IPA/tə blˈeɪm/

to blame — idiom

1. used to say that a particular person or thing is the cause of something bad that

1.慣用語B1
釋義

used to say that a particular person or thing is the cause of something bad that happened, and therefore deserves criticism for it

例句

The delivery driver was to blame for the broken packages left on the doorstep.

be + to blame + for [cause]

Eitan admitted that his own lack of sleep was to blame for the lost data.

同義詞
  • at fault

    equally common in everyday speech; same meaning and structure

  • responsible

    broader — can mean 'in charge of' or 'accountable', not only 'at fault'

反義詞
  • blameless

    describes someone who did nothing wrong

  • innocent

    suggests no involvement in the bad event

文法句型

be + to blame + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always used after a form of 'be' (is, are, was, were, has been). The thing or person at fault comes before the verb, and the bad outcome follows 'for'. This phrase does not use a passive structure — 'be to blame' is the fixed form, not 'be blamed'.

常見錯誤

❌He is to blame the accident.
✅He is to blame for the accident.
💡The phrase needs 'for' before the thing caused.
❌She is to be blamed for the delay.
✅She is to blame for the delay.
💡'to blame' is a fixed expression, not a passive infinitive.