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Learn Business English phrases with Phrase of the Week!
Each week, we introduce a new phrase to help you sound more natural and confident in your professional communication.
For extra practice, you can download the flashcards—just scroll down to the bottom of the page.
This Week's Phrase:
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY
formal
to agree to take control of something and make sure it is done properly
(= take responsibility)
When you assume responsibility, you show that you’re a leader.
When she was promoted, she assumed responsibility for the entire department’s operations.
Each member of the board must assume responsibility for their respective areas.
Listen to the definition and example sentences below. Click on each picture to hear the audio.
Learn more Business English phrases with responsibility
Here are more useful Business English phrases to help you talk about responsibility in the workplace:
HAND OVER RESPONSIBILITY
to give someone else the job of taking care of something
When I go on vacation, I will hand over responsibility for the reports to my colleagues.
The team leader handed over responsibility for scheduling meetings to the new intern.
He handed over responsibility for managing the event to his assistant.
AVOID RESPONSIBILITY
to try not to do a task or job that you are supposed to do;
to refuse to take the blame for a mistake
Avoiding responsibility can make others lose trust in you at work.
He tried to avoid responsibility for the broken printer, but everyone knew it was his fault.
They avoided responsibility by saying they weren’t involved in the project.
SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY
to make someone else take responsibility for something, often to avoid blame
Don’t try to shift responsibility —it’s better to take ownership of your mistakes.
They argued over who was responsible, each trying to shift responsibility to the other.
It’s unfair to shift responsibility when you’re the one in charge.
SHARE RESPONSIBILITY
to divide the work or duty of being in charge of something with other people.
Parents should share responsibility for taking care of their children.
We all share responsibility for keeping the office clean and organized.
Sharing responsibility in a project helps everyone feel involved and supported.
Choose the correct option, listen to the sentences, and repeat:
Let's Chat!
Does taking responsibility help you grow in your career?
Yes, taking responsibility helps you grow in your career because it shows you are reliable and can handle important tasks. This makes your manager trust you more. (Jacob, B2-level learner)
Why is it important to take responsibility for mistakes?
My opinion is that it's very important to take responsibility for your mistakes. When you do this, it shows that you are honest and professional. When you admit your mistakes, you can fix the problem and learn from it. As a result, you are building trust with your team and your manager. (Maria, B1-level learner)
Have you ever avoided responsibility?
Unfortunately, yes. I have avoided responsibility before. One time, I made a mistake at work, and I didn't tell my manager. I felt scared, but later I learned it's better to be honest. (Rania, A2-level learner)
