fall guy
Takes others' blame
A fall guy is someone who takes the blame for others' wrongdoing—a scapegoat set up to absorb consequences while the truly responsible parties escape.
The term suggests the person has been manipulated or sacrificed: They needed a fall guy, and he was too naive to see it coming.
Sometimes the fall guy is a willing participant who accepts blame for a price.
Unfairly blamed person
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- framedEnclosed or blamed falsely
culprit · defendant · indictment · prosecution · verdict · guilty · liable · fault
One offered for others' benefit
- martyrVictim for beliefs
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
victim · offering · thrown under the bus · hung out to dry · take the fall · cover for · shield · protect
Unwitting tool of another
- puppetControlled performing figure
- toolDevice for a task
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- lackeyServile follower or minion
minion · flunky · yes-man · henchman · accomplice · unwitting · expendable · used
Clear of wrongdoing
- vindicatedCleared of accusation
- clearedFound not guilty
- absolvedFreed from guilt
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
innocent · wronged · guiltless · unjustly · framed · miscarriage · railroaded · exoneration
patsy
Easily deceived victim
chump · con · swindle · fraud · hoodwink · bamboozle · setup · sting · grift · flimflam
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
framed · culprit · defendant · indictment · prosecution · verdict · guilty · liable · fault · penalty
sacrificial lamb
One offered for others' benefit
- martyrVictim for beliefs
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
expendable · victim · offering · thrown under the bus · hung out to dry · take the fall · cover for · shield · protect · cannon fodder
pawn
Unwitting tool of another
lackey · minion · flunky · yes-man · henchman · accomplice · unwitting · expendable · used · exploited
exonerate
Clear of wrongdoing
- vindicatedCleared of accusation
- clearedFound not guilty
- absolvedFreed from guilt
blameless · innocent · wronged · guiltless · unjustly · framed · miscarriage · railroaded · exoneration · acquitted
- suckerssucker, lollipop, Dum Dum, Tootsie Pop, all-day sucker
- Blameblame, fault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping
- character tropesantihero, hero, damsel in distress, mentor, femme fatale
- stock charactersvillain, sidekick, hero, damsel in distress, fool
- Stuntsstunt, stuntman, stunt double, daredevil, stunt performer
- comedy typesclown, satire, parody, farce, slapstick
fall guymastermind
Scheme's chief planner
ringleader · architect · orchestrator · instigator · untouchable
fall guypuppet master
One controlling figures backstage
orchestrator · kingpin · boss · handler · manipulator