Learning English

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Introduction

When someone tells you 'that's on you', they're telling you that it's your fault. We often use this phrase to remind people of their responsibility.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei, and I'm here with Phil.

Phil
Hello. Sorry I'm late, but you know, it's not my fault. The traffic was bad, and that's completely out of my control.

Feifei
I'm sorry, I'm not having that! The traffic is always bad – you should know that. If you're late because you haven't left enough time, well, that's on you, I'm afraid! It's your fault. Do better next time.

Phil
OK, so maybe that was my fault, but at least it gives us the phrase to look at for this episode – 'It's on you'. We use 'it's on you' to say 'it's your fault', and especially as a reminder to someone who doesn't want to admit responsibility.

Feifei
Yes. If someone is having problems because they failed to prepare, then those problems 'are on them', and they should take responsibility. For example, if you come to work at the wrong time because you didn't read your schedule, it's on you. If you fail an exam because you didn't prepare, then the failure is on you.

Phil
And if I'm late again after this, then it's definitely on me! Let's hear some examples of people using 'it's on you'.

Examples
If you didn't prepare for your speech, and it went badly, that's on you. It was obviously going to happen.

I've already eaten. If you haven't gone shopping and you don't have any food, that's on you.

I told you to wear a coat, and you didn't, and now you've got a cold. Well, that's on you.

Feifei
A different way to use 'on someone' to talk about responsibility is when you offer to pay for something, usually food or drink. You can say 'this is on me' to mean that you'll pay for it.

Phil
Yes. If you invite people out for a meal, you can say 'Don't worry, this is on me' to say that you'll pay for it – you'll take responsibility for it.

Feifei
Phil, seeing as you were late today, that's on you. Then, I think the next round of coffees should be on you as well! I hope you've brought your wallet!

Phil
I have, yes. See you next time, on time. Bye!

Feifei
Bye bye!

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