"fault" versus "blame"

[hopechest]

“I didn’t say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame you.”

This was a poster I saw online. A friend of mine, however, didn’t get the humor in it. English is her second language, and I had a hard time explaining it.


So how would you explain it to a non native speaker?

 

[rancher247]

Yes, this is a bit difficult to explain.
Just because you blame someone (convince yourself to believe that they are at fault) doesn't mean that they are actually at fault, and just because someone is actually at fault, doesn't mean that they will be blamed.
Does that make sense? lol
Hope this helps!

 

[RonBee]

“I didn’t say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame you.”

This was a poster I saw online. A friend of mine, however, didn’t get the humor in it. English is her second language, and I had a hard time explaining it.


So how would you explain it to a non native speaker?

If there is any humor in the statement it is because the speaker is contradicting himself. If you are blaming somebody for something you are saying it is his fault.