ichidan verb, transitive verb
Used for applying a thick or sticky substance onto a surface, often with a sense of spreading or covering.
壁にペンキを塗りつける。
I smear paint onto the wall.
パンにバターを塗りつけた。
I spread butter thickly on the bread.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
pin the blame on; shift the blame onto
Figurative use: to unfairly make someone else take the blame. Often used in the pattern 罪を～に塗りつける.
彼は自分の罪を同僚に塗りつけようとした。
He tried to pin his own crime on his colleague.