throw someone under the bus

What it means

To betray, blame, or sacrifice someone, often a friend or colleague, in order to protect or benefit yourself. It describes shifting fault onto another person to escape consequences.

Examples

• When the project failed, the manager threw his assistant under the bus.
• I can't believe she threw me under the bus in front of the whole team.
• Don't throw your coworkers under the bus just to look good to the boss.
• He admitted everything rather than throw his colleagues under the bus.

Where it comes from

This vivid metaphor emerged in American and British English in the late 20th century, becoming especially common in politics and business by the 1980s and 1990s.

Related idioms