taking one for the team
Accepting collective burden
Taking one for the team means accepting a burden, sacrifice, or unpleasant task so that others in your group don't have to.
The phrase comes from sports—a batter hit by a pitch advances to base, helping the team despite personal pain.
It now applies to any situation where someone endures something disagreeable for collective benefit: Someone has to eat the last slice of cold pizza—I'll take one for the team.
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- mutual supportAid flowing both directions
martyrdom · biting the bullet · solidarity · responsibility · accountability · unsung hero · camaraderie · unity · scapegoat · stepping up · loyalty · above and beyond · partnership · compassion · humility · perseverance · honor · trustworthiness
taking one for the teamlooking out for number one
Prioritizing personal gain above others
every man for himself · self-serving · selfish · self-interested · egotistical
taking one for the teampassing the buck
Transferring responsibility to others
ducking out · copping out · bailing · freeloading · making excuses
taking one for the teamstabbing in the back
Treachery by a trusted person
selling out · abandoning ship · ratting out · going rogue · defecting