Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
take-the-rap
idiom
/teɪk ðə ræp/
Definition
To accept the blame or punishment for someone else’s wrongdoing.
Examples
- Despite the circumstances, he was willing to take the rap for his friend’s mistake.
- She didn’t want to take the rap for a decision she didn’t agree with.
Meaning
Taking the rap refers to shouldering the consequences or penalties for an action, often one that a person did not commit or was not solely responsible for. It implies a sense of unfairness, as the person taking the rap is usually protecting someone else or is in a situation where they are unfairly targeted.
Synonyms
- accept blame
- take the fall
- bear the brunt
