- 1 I have a lot of responsibilities.
- 2 That's his problem now.
Obligations Are Carried In The Hands
-- 1 I wash my hands of the whole matter.
-- 2 It's out of my hands now.
-- 3 My hands are already full with just the work I have now.
Obligations Are Burdens (on Shoulder Or Back)
-- 1 He's loaded with responsibilities.
-- 2 He shouldered the task with ease.
-- 3 He's weighed down with obligations.
-- 4 He's carrying a heavy load at work.
-- 5 I have to get out from under my obligations.
-- 6 I have a pressing obligation.
-- 7 He bears the responsibility for the success of this mission.
Obligations Are Burdens (on Lap)
-- 1 I dumped that project in his lap.
Assigning Obligation Is Giving Possessions
-- 1 He handed out the responsibilties evenly to everyone in the office.
-- 2 He distributed the duties among the staff.
-- 3 I gave him the responsibilty for that account.
-- 4 He doled out the unpleasant duties freely.
Being Assigned Obligation Is Receiving Burdens
-- 1 It fell to me to inform her of the tragedy.
-- 2 Don't fob that job off on me.
-- 3 Don't push that job off on me.
-- 4 He loaded me with duties.
Being Assigned Obligation Is Being Placed Near Object
-- 1 They held him to his obligations.
-- 1 The setting of salaries is his baby.
-- 2 I thought you were going to take care of that problem.
-- 3 He's been neglecting his duties.
-- 4 That's his pet project.
-- 5 I have obligations to tend to.The last submetaphor is all messed up--"his baby" and "pet project" don'tmerely mean "obligation." Note that this is related to CONTROLLING IS HAVING IN HAND.Notice that "obligation" above always means responsibilty for some task to bedone in the future. There is another kind of responsibility, however, taking responsibility (either credit or blame) for something that has already occured.This kind is involved in the metaphor to follow.Jane Espenson