baton
hand on 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 handed on the baton to me.
See also: baton, hand, on
hand over the baton
To bestow a particular responsibility or job to someone. The phrase refers to a relay race in which one runner literally passes a baton to the next runner. I have so much work to do now that my boss has retired and handed over the baton to me.
See also: baton, hand, over
pass on 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 on the baton to me.
See also: baton, on, pass
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
under the baton of
Of a choir or orchestra, being conducted by (someone). It was great being under the baton of my old instructor again for our winter performance.
See also: baton, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
pass the baton
orhand 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
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
pass (or hand) on the baton
hand over a particular duty or responsibility.In athletics, the baton is the short stick or rod passed from one runner to the next in a relay race. The related phrases pick up or take up the baton mean ‘accept a duty or responsibility’. Compare with hand on the torch (at torch).
See also: baton, on, pass
under the baton of
(of an orchestra or choir) conducted by.The baton here is the rod used by the conductor.
See also: baton, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- hand on the baton
- pass on the baton
- pass the baton
- hand over the baton
- front runner
- front-runner
- hand over the reins
- eat (someone's) dust
- eat someone's dust
- drunk