onus

/'ounəs/

Thân thiện

The onus of proof lies with the accuser.

Definition

Noun: 1. A difficult or burdensome responsibility or duty: A task or obligation that is heavy, troublesome, or unpleasant to bear. 2. Blame or responsibility for something: The duty or obligation to prove, explain, or take action regarding something, often implying fault.

Usage and Examples

• The primary onus is on the applicant to provide all necessary documentation.
• The report places the onus for safety failures squarely on the management.
• With the new regulations, the onus of recycling falls on individual households.
• He felt the onus of being the family's sole provider.

Advanced Usage

• The onus of proof/proving: A formal phrase used in legal and argumentative contexts to specify who has the responsibility to provide evidence.
  • In a criminal trial, the onus of proof lies with the prosecution.
• To shift the onus (onto someone): To transfer a burden of responsibility to another person or group.
  • The company tried to shift the onus for the accident onto the contractor.

Variants and Related Words

• Onerous (adjective): Describing a task or responsibility that is burdensome, difficult, or involving great effort.
  • She was given the onerous task of reorganizing the entire filing system.

Synonyms

• Burden
• Responsibility
• Obligation
• Duty
• Liability
• Accountability

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• The onus is on (someone): A common structure used to state clearly who bears the responsibility.
  • The onus is on the government to address this crisis.
• To bear the onus: To accept or carry a heavy responsibility.
  • As team leader, she bore the onus for the project's success or failure.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an onerous or difficult concern
   • the burden of responsibility
   • that's a load off my mind

Từ đồng nghĩa

• burden
• load
• encumbrance
• incumbrance