fall-guy

Takes others' blame

A fall guy is someone who takes the blame for others' wrongdoing—a scapegoat set up to absorb punishment while the truly responsible parties escape consequences.

The term suggests deliberate sacrifice: They needed a fall guy, and the junior accountant fit perfectly.

In entertainment, a fall guy performs stunts or physical comedy involving falls.

scapegoat

blame

Assign responsibility for wrongdoing

  • patsyEasily deceived victim
  • stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
  • pawnUnwitting tool of another

proxy · target · decoy · cover · shield · alibi · setup · frameup · innocent · convenient

dupe

sucker

Easily fooled person

victim · gullible · naive · trusting · credulous · fooled · deceived · conned · swindled · bamboozled

Opposites
blame and responsibility

fall-guymastermind

Scheme's chief planner

guilty party · ringleader · instigator · orchestrator · wrongdoer

power dynamics

fall-guypuppet master

One controlling figures backstage

mastermind · kingpin · orchestrator · boss · handler

Family

fall, guy, falls, fell, fallen, falling, faller, downfall, fallout

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG