buck-passing

buck-passing (uncountable)

1. Blame shifting; the act of absolving oneself of responsibility or concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
   • 2020 July 29, Barry Doe, “GWR climbs down... but it took too long to issue refund”, in Rail, page 58:

     It's from here onwards that the whole web of buck-passing and excuses began.

• passing the buck
• the buck stops here