What does "Fall guy" mean?

Someone who takes the blame for others. A person set up to take the blame or punishment for someone else's crime or mistake.

How do you use "Fall guy" in a sentence?

They made him the fall guy for the scandal. Don't be the fall guy for their mistakes. He was just the fall guy—the real criminals escaped.

Fall guy

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Someone who takes the blame for others.

替他人背黑锅的人。

Alguien que carga con la culpa de otros.

他人の身代わりになって責任を取る人。

다른 사람 대신 책임을 뒤집어쓰는 사람.

A person set up to take the blame or punishment for someone else's crime or mistake.

被设计来为别人的罪行或错误承担责任或惩罚的人。

Una persona preparada para cargar con la culpa o el castigo por el crimen o error de otro.

他人の犯罪や過ちの責任や罰を負わされるよう仕組まれた人。

다른 사람의 범죄나 실수에 대해 대신 책임을 지거나 처벌을 받도록 이용당하는 사람.

Literal meaning: The guy who falls (takes the blame)

Examples

They made him the fall guy for the scandal.
他们让他做了丑闻的替罪羊
Le hicieron el cabeza de turco del escándalo
彼らは彼をスキャンダルの身代わりにした
그들은 그를 스캔들의 희생양으로 만들었다.
Don't be the fall guy for their mistakes.
别为他们的错误背黑锅
No seas el cabeza de turco por sus errores
彼らの過ちの身代わりになるな
그들의 실수에 대한 희생양이 되지 마라.
He was just the fall guy—the real criminals escaped.
他只是替罪羊，真正的罪犯逃走了
Solo era el cabeza de turco; los verdaderos criminales escaparon
彼は身代わりに過ぎなかった。本当の犯人は逃げた
그는 그저 희생양이었을 뿐이다—진짜 범인들은 도망쳤다.

Pronunciation

/fɔːl ɡaɪ/

Usage Guide

Context: blame, scapegoat, punishment

Tone: sympathetic, critical

✓ Do Say

Made him the fall guy.
让他背黑锅
Le hicieron el cabeza de turco
彼を身代わりにした
그를 희생양으로 만들었다.
Don't be the fall guy.
别当替罪羊
No seas el cabeza de turco
身代わりになるな
희생양이 되지 마라.
He's just the fall guy.
他只是替罪羊
Solo es el cabeza de turco
彼は身代わりに過ぎない
그는 그저 희생양일 뿐이다.

✗ Don't Say

Scapegoat
Scapegoat（替罪羊）
Scapegoat（Chivo expiatorio）
Scapegoat（スケープゴート）
희생양
Takes the blame
Takes the blame（承担责任）
Takes the blame（Carga con la culpa）
Takes the blame（責任を取る）
책임을 뒤집어쓰다

Common Mistakes

American origin
Also movie title with Ryan Gosling

Origin & History

From the person who 'falls' (takes the punishment).

Etymology: American slang

First recorded: 1900s

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: The Fall Guy (TV/movie); Crime fiction

Regional notes: American origin but widely used.

Variations

Fall guyThe fall guyMade the fall guy