throw under the bus
Meaning
To betray, blame, or sacrifice someone to protect yourself or gain advantage, often publicly.
Origin
A modern metaphor (attested from late 20th-century North American English): to “throw” someone into danger (like into the path of a bus) to save yourself; popular in business and politics.
Notes
Usually critical: implies cowardly self-protection by publicly blaming/sacrificing someone else. Common in workplace/politics. Informal to neutral; can sound accusatory.
Examples
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He threw his teammate under the bus during the meeting to avoid taking the blame.
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The CEO denied knowing about the scandal and threw the managers under the bus.
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Don’t throw me under the bus just because the deadline was missed.
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She felt thrown under the bus when her friend told everyone it was her idea.
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If things go wrong, they’ll throw the interns under the bus first.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically transitive: “throw + person + under the bus.” Often passive: “be thrown under the bus.” Verb inflects (throw/threw/thrown). Object is required; “under the bus” is fixed.
Synonyms
- betray
- sell someone out
- sacrifice someone
- hang someone out to dry
- stab someone in the back
- throw someone to the wolves
Antonyms
- back someone up
- stand up for someone
- support someone
- take responsibility