Cool MateBlame vs Charge them with what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Blame
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Charge them with what
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Blame
| Blame | Charge them with what | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bleɪm/","/bleɪmz/","/bleɪmd/","/ˈbleɪmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bleɪm/","/bleɪmz/","/bleɪmd/","/ˈbleɪmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tʃɑːdʒ ðɛm wɪð wɒt//🇺🇸 //tʃɑrdʒ ðɛm wɪð wʌt// |
| Meaning | To say someone is responsible for something bad. | Ask for what they did wrong or their responsibility |
| Example | It's easy to blame others when things go wrong. | The lawyer decided to charge them with what had happened at the scene. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | unfairly, unjustly, partly, can’t, don’t, can hardly, for, on, be to blame (for something), be widely blamed for something | charge with a crime, charge with an offense, charge with misconduct |
| Antonyms | praise, commend, exonerate | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Blame' can be used without an object, but it's clearer with one (e.g., 'She blames him')., Confused with 'accuse' - 'blaming' doesn’t always imply wrongdoing, while 'accusing' does., Some learners forget to use the preposition 'for' after 'blame' when stating the cause. | Omitting 'with' when stating the charge., Using 'them' incorrectly in different contexts., Confusing 'charge' with 'accuse' although they are related. |
| Usage notes | Use 'blame' when pointing to responsibility, often in a negative context. Avoid in overly formal situations; 'attribute' might be better there. | Used in legal contexts or when assigning blame. Neutral to formal tone; may not be suitable for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Blame vs Charge them with what
What's the difference between Blame and Charge them with what?
Blame: To say someone is responsible for something bad. Charge them with what: Ask for what they did wrong or their responsibility
Which is more common: Blame and Charge them with what?
Blame is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Blame: It's easy to blame others when things go wrong. Charge them with what: The lawyer decided to charge them with what had happened at the scene.
Can I use Blame and Charge them with what interchangeably?
Not always. Blame and Charge them with what are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.