shot the messenger
Punished bearer, news
Shot the messenger means punished or blamed someone for delivering bad news, rather than addressing the news itself.
The phrase comes from the ancient practice of executing bearers of unwelcome tidings.
It usually appears as a warning or complaint: Don't shoot the messenger—I'm just telling you what the boss said.
The past tense suggests the damage is already done.
- bad newsUnwelcome information
- harsh truthUncomfortable accurate statement
- bitter pillDifficult thing to accept
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- easy targetVulnerable person or thing
herald · confrontation · miscommunication · anger · denial · projection · envoy · shame · town crier · guilt · feedback loop · pass the buck · retaliation · emissary · frustration · whistleblower · defensiveness · cognitive dissonance
response to unwelcome news
shot the messengerstayed calm
shot, shooter, shooting, shoots, messenger, messengers, message, messages, messaging