fall guys
Those who take blame
Fall guys are people who take the blame for others' wrongdoing—scapegoats set up to absorb punishment while the truly responsible parties escape: The CEO walked free while the accountants became fall guys.
The term suggests the person is deliberately sacrificed, often by more powerful figures who orchestrated the scheme.
A fall guy may be complicit, naive, or simply unlucky.
- patsiesScapegoats or easy victims
- foolsIdiots or deceives
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
sacrificial lamb · victim · thrown under the bus · dupe · sucker · mark · easy target · culpability · framed · take the rap · exoneration · setup · wrongful conviction · sacrifice · plea bargain · plea deal · suspect · decoy
fall guysmasterminds
Plans and directs schemes
untouchables · ringleaders · principals · architects · instigators
fall guysmasterminds
Plans and directs schemes
puppet masters · kingpins · bosses · shot callers · power brokers
fall guyspuppet masters
Controllers of others' actions
shot callers · kingpins · bosses · ringleaders · power brokers
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