Learn English – Need native expressions for “something happened but no one wants to undertake the responsibility”

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Are there native expressions in oral and formal writing English about something happened – mostly negative incidents or events, but those, who should be responsible for it , don't want to undertake its responsibility or involve themselves in this.

Best Answer

A common phrase in the US is pass the buck

(informal) to evade blame or responsibility by trying to pass it to someone else

Collins

A countervailing phrase came into later usage, the buck stops here, to signify that the speaker was accepting responsibility.

Often the concept is expressed by negating terms for taking responsibility, as in

No one would step up

Not a single one of them would take the bull by the horns.

Won't anybody man up? [A bit sexist.]