bá nhọ
Definition
- Verb (informal, slang):
- To take the blame for someone else; to be the scapegoat: To accept responsibility or punishment for a mistake or wrongdoing that was actually committed by another person.
- To be framed; to be wrongfully accused: To be made to appear guilty for something one did not do.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ta bị bắt bá nhọ cho đồng bọn. (He was forced to take the blame for his accomplices.)
- Đừng để tôi phải bá nhọ cho cậu lần nữa. (Don't make me be the scapegoat for you again.)
- Cô ấy chỉ là bá nhọ trong vụ án đó. (She was just framed in that case.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is highly colloquial and carries a strong negative connotation of injustice and victimization. It is often used in contexts of corruption, crime, or unfair situations where power dynamics force someone to bear undeserved consequences.
Variants and Related Words
- Bá ngọ (informal, slang): A variant with identical meaning and usage to "bá nhọ."
- Thằng đó chuyên đi bá ngọ cho người khác. (That guy specializes in taking the fall for others.)
Synonyms
- To take the fall: To accept punishment for someone else's crime.
- To be the scapegoat: To be blamed for the faults of others.
- To be framed: To be falsely incriminated.
Related Idioms
- Làm bia đỡ đạn: Literally "to act as a bulletproof shield"; figuratively means to bear the brunt or take the hit for someone else. This is a close conceptual synonym, though not a direct linguistic variant.
- Anh ấy bị đẩy ra làm bia đỡ đạn cho cả công ty. (He was pushed out to take the fall for the whole company.)