pass on the baton

pass on the baton

To bestow a particular responsibility or job on 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 passed on the baton to me.

See also: baton, on, pass

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