Passing the buck is an idiom that means to shift responsibility or BLAME onto someone else. The crossword solutions for this term are PUNT (4 letters), BLAME (5 letters), DEFER (5 letters), REFER (5 letters), and COPOUT (6 letters). PUNT means to kick a ball, but in this context it means to avoid responsibility by passing it on. BLAME is to hold someone responsible for a mistake or wrong-doing. DEFER means to delay or postpone something. REFER means to direct someone to a source of information. Copout is to avoid responsibility by giving an excuse.