Read the excerpt from “Daughter of Invention”. But Laura’s inventing days were over just as Yoyo’s were starting up with her school-wide success. Rather than the rolling suitcase everyone else in the family remembers, Yoyo thinks of the speech her mother wrote as her last invention. It was as if, after that, her mother had passed on to Yoyo her pencil and pad and said, “Okay, Cuquita, here’s the buck. You give it a shot.” Which context clue provides the best hint for the meaning of the underlined idiom in this excerpt?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
In the excerpt from “Daughter of Invention,” the underlined idiom “here’s the buck” suggests the idea of passing responsibility or an opportunity to someone else. The context clue that provides the best hint for its meaning is the phrase, “you give it a shot.” This phrase implies encouragement for Yoyo to take on the challenge of inventing or creating something herself.
Explanation
To understand the idiom “here’s the buck,” we can analyze the surrounding context. The excerpt describes a transitional moment between Yoyo and her mother, illustrating a shift in creative responsibility. Laura’s inventing days are described as being over, signaling that she is stepping back from her role as the primary creator or inventor in the family. This transition is highlighted by the phrase “you give it a shot,” which denotes a sense of encouragement and opportunity for Yoyo to take initiative in her own creative endeavors.
The idiom “passing the buck” is commonly used to indicate the act of transferring responsibility to another person. In this case, when Laura metaphorically hands over her pencil and pad to Yoyo, she is not only passing on the tools for creativity but also transferring the responsibility for innovation and expression. This moment signifies Yoyo’s entry into a new phase of her life where she can take the reins of creativity that her mother had previously held.
Overall, the idiom reflects the theme of generational transition, where Yoyo is encouraged to embrace her potential. The clue “you give it a shot” reinforces the idea that Yoyo is being entrusted with the opportunity to express herself and make her own mark, thus symbolizing a pivotal moment of growth and empowerment in her journey as an inventor.