pass the baton


pass the baton

To bestow one's responsibility or job upon someone else. An allusion to a relay race in which one runner literally hands a baton to the next runner. I have so much work to do now that my boss has retired and passed the baton to me.See also: baton, pass

pass the baton

or

hand over the baton

If you pass the baton or hand over the baton to someone, you give them responsibility for something. Does this mean that the baton of leadership is going to be passed to other nations? Last year, he handed over the baton to his younger colleague. Note: You can also say that you pick up the baton, meaning that you take over responsibility for something from someone else. Now, Colin's son, Clive, has picked up the baton and the company has a bright future. Note: In a relay race, team members pass on a baton as they finish running their stage of the race. See also: baton, pass