'To lie at one's door' definitions:

Definition of 'To lie at one's door'

From: GCIDE
  • Door \Door\, n. [OE. dore, dure, AS. duru; akin to OS. dura, dor, D. deur, OHG. turi, door, tor gate, G. th["u]r, thor, Icel. dyrr, Dan. d["o]r, Sw. d["o]rr, Goth. daur, Lith. durys, Russ. dvere, Olr. dorus, L. fores, Gr. ?; cf. Skr. dur, dv[=a]ra. [root]246. Cf. Foreign.]
  • 1. An opening in the wall of a house or of an apartment, by which to go in and out; an entrance way. [1913 Webster]
  • To the same end, men several paths may tread, As many doors into one temple lead. --Denham. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The frame or barrier of boards, or other material, usually turning on hinges, by which an entrance way into a house or apartment is closed and opened. [1913 Webster]
  • At last he came unto an iron door That fast was locked. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Passage; means of approach or access. [1913 Webster]
  • I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. --John x. 9. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. An entrance way, but taken in the sense of the house or apartment to which it leads. [1913 Webster]
  • Martin's office is now the second door in the street. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
  • Blank door, Blind door, etc. (Arch.) See under Blank, Blind, etc.
  • In doors, or Within doors, within the house.
  • Next door to, near to; bordering on. [1913 Webster]
  • A riot unpunished is but next door to a tumult. --L'Estrange.
  • Out of doors, or Without doors, and, [colloquially], {Out doors}, out of the house; in open air; abroad; away; lost. [1913 Webster]
  • His imaginary title of fatherhood is out of doors. --Locke.
  • To lay (a fault, misfortune, etc.) at one's door, to charge one with a fault; to blame for.
  • To lie at one's door, to be imputable or chargeable to. [1913 Webster]
  • If I have failed, the fault lies wholly at my door. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Door is used in an adjectival construction or as the first part of a compound (with or without the hyphen), as, door frame, doorbell or door bell, door knob or doorknob, door latch or doorlatch, door jamb, door handle, door mat, door panel. [1913 Webster]