pin the blame on someone

Meaning: To make someone take responsibility for a fault, often unfairly.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “They pinned the blame on the youngest member of the crew.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: As if blame were a label pinned to a person's clothes. The phrase is common from the 20th century.

Equivalents in other languages

Russian: Вешать всех собак (Veshat' vsekh sobak) — literally: To hang all the dogs on someone

a closed book — Something one knows nothing about, or someone impossible to understand.
a trump card — A decisive advantage kept in reserve.
hide one's light under a bushel — To keep one's talents hidden.
charity begins at home — One's first duty is to one's own family.
a load of nonsense — Something completely untrue or silly.
all or nothing — With no middle way; everything is risked on one outcome.

let the grass grow under one's feet — To waste time and miss opportunities.
go through fire and water — To face any danger or hardship for someone or something.
up to one's ears in debt — Deeply in debt.
hand on heart — Said when swearing that something is completely true.
you'll live — Said to someone making a fuss over a small injury or setback.
with an iron fist — With harsh, absolute control.

Schlauberger — A know-it-all smartass who never misses a chance to show off their cleverness.
Dickkopf — A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
空気が読めない (kūki ga yomenai) — Completely oblivious to the unspoken social mood — the person who kills the atmosphere wi…