Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

shoot-the-messenger

idiom

/ʃuːt ðə ˈmɛsɪndʒər/

Definition

To blame or punish the bearer of bad news instead of addressing the issue at hand.

Examples

When the company faced a scandal, the CEO unjustly shot the messenger, berating the employee who reported the issue.
It’s pointless to shoot the messenger; we need to focus on solving the problem he has brought to our attention.
During the meeting, instead of addressing the failures, the manager ended up shooting the messenger who delivered the bad news.

Meaning

The phrase originated from the idea that someone should not harm the person who delivers unpleasant information, as they are merely relaying what they have been told. It emphasizes the importance of dealing with the problem rather than taking out frustration on the person who informs you of it.