den Kopf hinhalten

to take the blame/responsibility (often for someone else); to carry the can

Origin

Refers to the death penalty of beheading, in which the condemned had to lay his head on the block to receive the axe-blow. The figurative use ('to answer for something') is, however, comparatively recent (occasionally in the 19th century).

Source →

Building blocks

Words in this expression

allein· alone das Ende· end der Fehler· mistake der Kopf· head das Team· team vom· from the

Grammar that uses this word

Preposition 'gegen' (against, accusative)Präposition 'gegen' (Akkusativ)
Local preposition 'auf' (on, Wo?/where? + dative)Lokale Präposition 'auf' (Wo? + Dativ)
Local preposition 'auf' (onto, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)Lokale Präposition 'auf' (Wohin? + Akkusativ)
Local preposition 'unter' (under, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)Lokale Präposition 'unter' (Wohin? + Akkusativ)

Examples

Die kamen ganzen , aber am musste sie den hinhalten.
The mistakes came from the whole team, but in the end she alone had to carry the can.