pass the baton

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   To hand over a role, task or responsibility to another person so that they can carry on the work.

   Grammar: The verb changes form, the noun stays fixed: she passed the baton, not passed a baton.

   Patterns

   • pass the baton to someone
   • pass the baton on

   After twenty years as director, she will pass the baton to her deputy in June.

   The founder was ready to pass the baton to a younger generation.

   Veteran players pass the baton to rookies by teaching them the club's traditions.

2. 2phraseidiomsport

   In a relay race, to hand the short stick to the next runner on your team.

   Grammar: Literal use; the runner is the subject and the next runner follows to.

   Patterns

   • pass the baton to someone

   She passed the baton to the final runner a few strides ahead of the pack.

   The team lost the race when he failed to pass the baton cleanly.

   Practice how to pass the baton without slowing down.

Word forms

Common combinations

ready to pass the baton

The coach felt ready to pass the baton after a decade.

pass the baton to the next generation

They hope to pass the baton to the next generation of farmers.

pass the baton smoothly

The two managers worked together to pass the baton smoothly.

pass the baton on

He plans to pass the baton on at the end of the season.

time to pass the baton

After the festival, it was time to pass the baton.

Synonyms and how they differ

hand over

Hand over is more general and can describe any object or duty, while pass the baton suggests a role continued by a successor.

step down

Step down focuses on the person leaving, whereas pass the baton includes who takes over.

delegate

Delegate means giving part of the work to someone while keeping overall responsibility, but passing the baton hands it over entirely.

succeed

Succeed describes the incoming person taking the place, while pass the baton describes the outgoing person's action.

Opposites

Word family

baton noun

the stick passed in a relay race, or used by a conductor

handover noun

the act of transferring responsibility

baton change noun

the moment runners exchange the stick

Commonly confused: pass the baton or take up the baton?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pass the baton”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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