To blame someone is to say or think that they are responsible for a problem, mistake, or bad situation. It can be fair or unfair, depending on the facts.
From Old French “blasmer,” from Latin “blasphemare,” meaning “to speak evil of” or “to insult.” The sense shifted from speaking badly of something to assigning responsibility for a wrong.
Blame is a social tool: it doesn’t just point to a cause; it often tries to protect or repair a group’s rules. That’s why people sometimes rush to blame someone quickly—it feels like taking control after chaos.
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