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. My grandmother is unable to stand long enough to cook such a large meal, so we're making Thanksgiving dinner this year—she has handed on the baton to us. Because Gina is leaving, she is handing on the baton to me, and I'll take over her job as supervisor.

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. My grandmother is unable to stand long enough to cook such a large meal, so we're making Thanksgiving dinner this year—she has handed over the baton to us. Because Gina is leaving, she is handing over the baton to me, and I'll take on her job as supervisor.

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. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pass the baton

or

hand 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. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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 © Farlex 2017