hand over — transfer responsibility (abstract)
to delegate or relinquish responsibility, authority, or a role to another person or group, often in a formal or organizational context.
Say it like a native
Textbook I will formally transfer my responsibilities to my successor.
Native I'm handing over to my replacement next week.
At work people 'hand over' a role/project; 'formally transfer responsibilities' is HR-speak.
Pattern: hand over (responsibility/role/authority) (to someone)
In use
- After ten years as CEO, she decided it was time to hand over responsibility to a new generation of leaders.workplace
- In many organizations, it is essential to have a clear process for handing over authority to ensure continuity and avoid confusion during leadership transitions.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She handed over her duties for the new manager.
✓ She handed over her duties to the new manager.
You hand over TO the person taking over, not 'for'.
Common collocations
hand over + role— responsibility, the project, control, to a colleague
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense, which focuses on physically giving something or control, this sense is abstract and emphasizes the transfer of responsibility or authority, often as part of a process or transition.
Related
- hand over (give control or possession) — 'hand over' also has the more basic meaning 'give control or possession'; this is the advanced sense.