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Pass the Buck

Pass the Buck English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Oct 05 2010

Themes: Soap Opera, Work

Grammar: Simple Future Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Whether you’re a criminal or a slacker, the best way to avoid being blamed for something you did wrong or failed to do at all is to blame someone else. It’s certainly not an honorable thing to do, but it’s likely to work, at least for a while.

When you’re in trouble and try to pin the blame on someone else, it’s called passing the buck. You can also pass the buck if you just don’t want to deal with something that really is your responsibility. Say someone asks you for directions in your hometown. You don’t have time or don’t want to stop and give directions, so you suggest they ask in a nearby store. You have passed the buck to the people in the store.

Watch as Devan learns that some important work didn’t get done at the office and tries to figure out whose fault it is.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Beren

Beren

Dale

Dale

Jason

Jason

Jeff

Jeff

Marni

Marni

Devan:  Hello! This is Devan. You didn’t get the report? Oh. I’m so sorry about that. I will get to the bottom of that] right away. You guys! Where is that advertising report? Linda just called. She never got it.

Beren:  The advertising report?

Devan:  Yeah.

Beren:  Oh! Jason said he was going to take care of it after he crunched some numbers, added some figures to it.

Devan:  Jason said that?

Beren:  Yeah, yeah!

Devan:  OK, I’ll go talk to him, then.

Dale:  Why did you say that, man? That’s not true.

Beren:  I was just passing the buck! I don’t want to deal with it right now!

Jason:  Hey!

Devan:  So, where is that report? Beren says that you were supposed to send it.

Jason:  No, no, no! Last I heard Jeff was supposed to look it over for legal stuff, or something, and then send it on. I never even saw it. I don’t know what Beren’s talking about. I think she must have just been trying to pass the buck to me or something.

Devan:  So, Beren was just passing the buck to you, then. It was really supposed to be Jeff sending it.

Jason:  Yeah. I know it sounds like I’m just trying to pass the buck to Jeff, but I really don’t know anything about it. It’s really not my fault.

Devan:  OK…I’ll call Jeff, then.

Jason:  OK, I’ll see you soon. Bye.

Jeff:  So, Devan, you wanted to see me?

Devan:   Jason says you were supposed to send me that report this morning, and it’s very important, and I didn’t get it!

Jeff:  I gave it to you when I handed you those carrots.

Devan:  No, you didn’t! So Jason wasn’t just passing the buck…

Jeff:  Nope.

Devan:  You really did send it to me. Whatever, this is Marni’s fault anyway. It’s always Marni’s fault.

Marni:  I do not think this is my fault! Don’t try to pass the buck to me! I’ve told you not to eat in the office.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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An important client calls Devan and tells her that they didn’t receive some information they were expecting. Devan tries to figure out which of her employees is responsible for this.

She starts with Beren, who tells Devan that Jason was supposed to send the report. Dale knows this is a lie and asks Beren why didn’t tell Devan the truth. Beren explains that she’s just passing the buck to get out of trouble.

Devan calls Jason because he is home sick. He says that Jeff was supposed to send the report. When Devan asks Jeff about it, he says he gave it to her at the same time as he gave her some carrots. She must have gotten distracted and forgotten to send it herself. Devan desperately tries to pass the buck to Marni by simply saying it must be her fault somehow. Marni reminds her that she told her not to eat in the office, and if she hadn’t been eating, she probably would have remembered to send the report.

Have you ever passed the buck to someone? Has anyone ever tried to pass the buck to you?

 

Comments

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renemex

renemex

Mexico

Ha ha ha, very useful lesson, I never hear about "pass the buck"... in México we use the expression "pass the hot potatoe" or "the little ball" instead

10:28 PM Oct 05 2010 |

moowyare

moowyare

Uganda

I think Devan is kinda Hot. and the lesson is very usefull, I really appreciate your efforts. I do feel my english is improved. Now i am quite confident and can talk in public without feeling any embarrassing. Thanks very much.

10:08 PM Oct 05 2010 |

charming princess

Saudi Arabia

i live Marni ! hehehe

 

08:00 PM Oct 05 2010 |

gokuh

gokuh

India

may be bt i dnt remember any incident.

05:18 PM Oct 05 2010 |

Nicte ha

Nicte ha

Mexico

I think they need to implement methods and strategies, as well as a procedures manual to designate responsibilities so that this wouldn't happen again.

04:23 PM Oct 05 2010 |

Nicte ha

Nicte ha

Mexico

omg!

Beren, Jason, Jeff, Marni…., who else???

what a team!!

Come on guys, don't pass the buck!!

poor Devan!!!!

ouch!!

At job, yes, I know ppl who always try to pss the buck, even we could be friends, but when it is time to work, it means its time to work! and if someone commit a mistake, even if we are friends I show his/her fault.

We must be liable. It's our duty!!!!

04:15 PM Oct 05 2010 |

kiojohn

kiojohn

China

No eating in office… Poor marni…so marni s gonna take the duck?

03:17 PM Oct 05 2010 |

rykinlong

rykinlong

Hong Kong

I told you Not to Eat in the Office :-D

02:42 PM Oct 05 2010 |

jaime sierra rivera

Colombia

 No INEVER TRIED PASSED THE BUCK ANY PERSON IS NOT GOOD IS VERY BAD

08:48 AM Oct 05 2010 |

dearpesar

dearpesar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

no im not that type of guy passing the buck and i hate who are soCry

03:23 AM Oct 05 2010 |

trailo_hathanh

Viet Nam

Well, passing the buck to someone is not going thing to do. I have never to it because I hate it. Unfortunately, Some time someone trying to pass the buck to me. 

01:49 AM Oct 05 2010 |

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