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Pass the buck

Posted by Bob on May 17, 2003

In Reply to: Pass the buck posted by TRG on May 17, 2003

: Is it true that the "buck" in poker was originally a buck knife that a player stuck in the table in front of himself so that everyone would remember that he was the current dealer?

Colorful, but a little hard on the furniture. The "buck" was a token used to remind the dealer of his responsibility. The association with knives comes from "buckhorn" knives, the origin of the term. (Buck knives is a trademark today, by the way.) "Passing the buck" is conveniently neglecting your responsibility.

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