Escurrir el bulto

to shirk one's responsibilities; **to shirk one's responsibilities**; **to dodge responsibility**; **to wriggle out of it**; **to pass the buck**; **to avoid the issue**

Escurrir el bulto means to dodge responsibility, to shirk one's responsibilities, to wriggle out of something, to avoid the issue, or to pass the buck.

It refers to deliberately avoiding obligations or refusing to accept responsibility.

• avoids doing their share of the work
• refuses to accept blame
• changes the subject to avoid responsibility
• leaves unpleasant tasks to others
• finds excuses to avoid getting involved

The expression probably comes from the physical act of moving one's body aside to avoid a blow or an unwanted burden.

The verb escurrir conveys the idea of slipping away or escaping skilfully.

From this physical image developed the figurative meaning of avoiding duties, blame or difficult situations.

The expression almost always carries criticism.

Someone who escurre el bulto is seen as unreliable because they leave unpleasant responsibilities for others.

For this reason, the idiom is especially common in discussions about politics, teamwork and family responsibilities.

Spanish has several idioms describing avoidance of responsibility:

• Escurrir el bulto → to dodge responsibility.
• Lavarse las manos → to wash one's hands of something.
• Pasar la pelota → to pass the problem to someone else.
• Quitarse el muerto de encima → to get rid of an unwanted responsibility.

Among them, escurrir el bulto is one of the most common because it vividly suggests someone physically slipping away just when they are expected to step forward.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

He slips away from the bulk.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• He dodges responsibility.
• She's shirking her responsibilities.
• He's trying to wriggle out of it.
• She's passing the buck.

Choose the translation according to whether the emphasis is on blame, work or responsibility.