Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
fall-guy
noun
fawl-gahy
Definition
A person who is tricked or deceived into taking the blame for someone else’s wrongdoing.
Examples
- After the scandal, Mark became the fall-guy for the company’s financial mismanagement.
- In the movie, the detective had to find out who the real criminal was and why the innocent man was chosen as the fall-guy.
- Everyone knew that Jake was the fall-guy in their little scheme, taking all the heat for their actions.
Meaning
The term ‘fall-guy’ refers to an individual who is unfairly blamed for a mistake or crime, often to protect the real culprit.
Synonyms
- sacrificial lamb
- scapegoat
- patsy
