Pass the baton

Meaning

Transfer responsibility or leadership to someone else.

Usage

Borrowed from relay racing to describe succession.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Track and field imagery of handing over a baton during a race.

Used since the early 20th century in corporate and political contexts.