falling on one's sword
Honorable voluntary resignation
Falling on one's sword is taking responsibility for a failure, often by resigning or accepting blame to protect others.
The phrase comes from the ancient practice of military leaders killing themselves after defeat rather than facing capture or disgrace.
In modern use, it usually describes a political or corporate sacrifice: The aide fell on his sword to shield the senator from scandal.
Sometimes the fall is voluntary; sometimes it's strongly encouraged from above.
- seppukuRitualized Japanese self-disembowelment
- ritual suicideFormalized self-inflicted death
- noble sacrificeSurrendering for others' sake
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- mea culpaAcknowledgment of personal blame
samurai warrior · martyrdom · confession · public apology · resignation · contrition · integrity · honor code · ownership · taking one for the team · apology · acknowledgment · scapegoat · heroism · duty · loyalty · penitence · liability
falling on one's swordscapegoating
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
passing the buck · pointing fingers · blame-shifting · blaming others
falling on one's swordlooking out for number one
Prioritizing personal gain above others
self-preservation · every man for himself · digging in one's heels · weathering the storm · stonewalling
falls, fallen, falling, fallout, downfall, oneself, sword, swords, swordsman