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pin on

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pin something on someone

Fig. Inf. to blame something on someone; to frame someone for a crime; to make it appear that an innocent person has actually committed a crime. (See also pin something on someone or something.) Don't try to pin that crime on me! I didn't do it. The gang member tried to pin the crime on a rival gang.

See also: on, pin

pin something on someone or something

to hang something on someone or something by pinning. (See also pin something on someone.) The mayor pinned the medal on the boy who had rescued the swimmer. I pinned a yellow ribbon on my lapel.

See also: on, pin

pin something on somebody

to blame someone for something The accident can't be pinned on me, but I truly don't know how it happened.

See also: on, pin

pin something on something

to depend on something for a particular result We are all pinning our hopes on the new pipeline for a cleaner water supply.

See also: on, pin

pin something on somebody

to blame someone for something, especially something they did not do The police tried to pin the murder on the dead woman's husband.

See also: on, pin

pin on

Attribute to someone, especially a wrongdoing or crime. For example, They pinned the murder on the wrong man. This expression uses pin in the sense of "attach." [First half of 1900s]

See also: on, pin

pin on

v.

1. To hang or secure something onto someone or something using a pin or pins: I pinned a flower on my hat. I pinned on a corsage to my sleeve.

2. To ascribe responsibility for something, especially something that is worthy of blame, to someone: The detective pinned the murder on the wrong suspect.

See also: on, pin