Imagine being blamed for something you didn’t do — and the person who did it smiles sweetly while pointing at you. That’s what it feels like when someone throws you under the bus. This punchy idiom pops up in offices, politics, and even friendships. In this post, we’ll dig into its meaning, surprising origin, and real-life examples to help you use it naturally in English.
What Does “Throw Someone Under the Bus” Really Mean?
To throw someone under the bus means to betray, blame, or sacrifice another person to protect yourself or gain an advantage. It’s about saving your own skin, even if it hurts someone else.
In one line: it means to protect yourself by betraying someone else.
You might use it when:
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Someone lets a friend take the blame for their mistake.
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A coworker shifts responsibility to look good in front of the boss.
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A teammate blames another player for a failure.
In all cases, there’s one thing in common — disloyalty for self-preservation.
Where Did “Throw Someone Under the Bus” Come From?
The phrase sounds dramatic — and that’s part of its charm. While its exact roots are unclear, most linguists trace it back to British slang in the late 1970s. It appeared in print by around 1980, often used in political journalism to describe leaders betraying their allies.
The imagery of being “thrown under a bus” instantly conveys sudden, harsh betrayal — public, painful, and shocking.
By the 1980s, the idiom had rolled across the Atlantic into American English, gaining huge popularity in sports, politics, and workplaces. Today, it’s a favorite phrase whenever someone needs to call out a backstabber — but with flair.
How to Use “Throw Someone Under the Bus” in a Sentence
Here are a few ways people use this idiom in different settings:
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Workplace drama: “When the client complained, Jordan threw his whole team under the bus to save face.”
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Politics: “The spokesperson threw the campaign manager under the bus after the scandal broke.”
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Friendships: “I can’t believe you threw me under the bus just to impress them.”
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Media or sports: “After the game, the coach threw the star player under the bus for missing the penalty.”
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Casual chat: “Don’t throw me under the bus, we both forgot the tickets!”
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Formal tone: “The report effectively threw lower management under the bus to protect the executives.”
Other Idioms That Mean the Same Thing
If you want to mix up your expressions, here are some similar idioms that carry the same sense of betrayal or blame-shifting:
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Stab someone in the back – To secretly betray a friend or ally.
Example: He stabbed his coworker in the back to get a promotion. -
Sell someone out – To betray someone’s trust, often for personal benefit.
Example: She sold him out by revealing his secret to the boss. -
Pass the buck – To shift blame or responsibility to someone else.
Example: The manager keeps passing the buck instead of taking accountability. -
Hang someone out to dry – To abandon someone when they’re in trouble.
Example: The company hung its employees out to dry during the crisis.
My Take on This Idiom
Throw someone under the bus is one of those idioms that makes you pause — it’s so visual that you instantly feel it. I’ve seen it play out in real life, especially in group projects where no one wants to admit a mistake. Personally, I think it’s a phrase that reminds us how valuable honesty and loyalty really are — and how easy it is to lose both.
Wrapping It Up
So, when you say someone threw another under the bus, you’re describing an act of betrayal to avoid blame or gain an edge. The idiom may sound funny, but its meaning hits hard — especially when you’re the one under the wheels!
Now it’s your turn:
Do you use “throw someone under the bus” in your everyday English? Share your examples or stories in the comments below!