fall-guy

A man is set up as the fall-guy for the company's mistake.

Definition

1. Noun (informal, often used in American English):
   • A person who is blamed or punished for the wrongdoing or mistakes of others: A "fall guy" is someone who takes the blame, often unjustly, for a situation that is not their fault.
   • A person who is easily deceived or used as a dupe: In criminal or comedic contexts, a "fall guy" can be an unsuspecting individual who is set up to take the fall for a scheme.

Usage Examples

• As a scapegoat:
  • The corrupt manager made the junior employee the fall guy for the accounting scandal. (The junior employee was unfairly blamed for the manager's crimes.)
• As a dupe:
  • In the heist movie, the naive driver was the fall guy, tricked into taking the blame for the robbery. (The driver was deceived into becoming the person held responsible.)

Advanced Usage

• "to set someone up as the fall guy": to deliberately arrange for a person to take the blame.
  • The conspirators set the security guard up as the fall guy to avoid suspicion. (They orchestrated events so the guard would be falsely accused.)
• "to be the fall guy for something": to accept responsibility for a failure or crime, often unwillingly.
  • He was the fall guy for the company's poor quarterly results. (He was forced to take the blame for the company's performance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fall-guy (n): the same as "fall guy," used with or without a hyphen.
• Fall (n): a collapse or failure (not directly related but part of the compound).
• Guy (n): a man or person (informal).

Synonyms

• Scapegoat: a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings of others.
  • The team made her the scapegoat for the loss. (She was unfairly blamed.)
• Patsy: a person who is easily fooled or used as a dupe.
  • The con artist used the tourist as his patsy. (The tourist was the fall guy.)
• Whipping boy: a person who is punished for others' mistakes (historical term).
  • The intern became the whipping boy for the department's errors. (He was the fall guy.)

Related Idioms

• Take the fall: to accept the blame or punishment for something.
  • The accountant took the fall for the embezzlement, even though he was innocent. (He became the fall guy.)
• Fall on one's sword: to take responsibility for a failure, often by resigning or accepting punishment.
  • The CEO fell on his sword to protect the board. (He acted as the fall guy.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Fall for (informal): to be deceived by something or someone.
  • He fell for the scam and became the fall guy. (He was tricked into taking the blame.)
• Fall back on: to rely on someone or something as a last resort.
  • When the plan failed, they fell back on the fall guy to take the blame. (They used him as a backup scapegoat.)