take the rap
Shoulder others' guilt
To take the rap is to accept blame or punishment, especially for something you didn't do or for others who were also involved.
The phrase comes from criminal slang, where rap means a criminal charge or prison sentence.
His brother took the rap and served three years.
Someone who takes the rap may do so out of loyalty, coercion, or circumstance.
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
- blamedHeld at fault
suffer · patsy · own up to · answer for · face the music · culpability · whipping boy · sacrifice · answerability · pay the price · guilt · carry the can · pay the piper · accountability · punishment · accomplice · interrogation · protect
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, answerability, responsible
take the rappass the buck
Transfer responsibility elsewhere
shift the blame · point the finger · wash one's hands · cover one's tracks · weasel out
take the rappoint the finger
Accuse someone of wrongdoing
name names · turn state's evidence · snitch · inform on · accuse
take the rapwalk away clean
get away with it · beat the rap · slip through the cracks · skate by · walk free
take, mistake, taken, rap, taking, overtake, unwrap, takes, undertake