throw under the bus
throw under the bus
Meaning | Synonyms
- to betray a partner, colleague or close friend for self-benefits
- to blame somebody or something
- to deceive a friend or partner for selfish reasons
- to betray an acquaintance to divert blame
- to dissociate oneself from an unfavorable position on issue
- to betray an acquaintance to divert blame or dissociate oneself from an unfavorable position on issue
Example Sentences
- Mark always looks for someone to blame and throw under the bus for his failings.
- When the FBI missed a tip about the man who became a school
shooter, the FBI director was thrown under the bus by the state
Governor who called for his resignation so he wouldn’t be blamed for
the incident. - John only wants the admiration and when things go wrong – he always finds for someone to throw under the bus.
- I am sure that my boss will throw me under the bus for the failed project.
- I think that I am always the one that people throw under the bus first.
- It’s shocking to know how my Dad got thrown under the bus by his colleague.
- When the FBI missed a tip about the man who became a school shooter, the FBI director was thrown under the bus by the state Governor who called for his resignation so he wouldn’t be blamed for the incident.
Origin
Although, the exact origin of this phrase has been a big mystery. It seems that the phrase was originated in Britain somewhere between the late 1970s and early 1980s.
However, some older printed records are also available used for different contexts and meanings.
In its current idiomatic usage – the oldest printed record of the phrase we can trace is dated back to June 21, 1982, as an idiomatic expression published by an English newspaper known as The Times in British politics.
“The Conservative benches listened to her in silence. She was in deep trouble and the lobbies hummed with the prospect of her departure. President Galtieri had pushed her under the bus which the gossips had said was the only means of her removal.”
– Julian Critchley, The Times (London, English), 21 June 1982
Variants
- push under the bus
- shove under the bus
Share your opinions5 Opinions
I cannot remember the exact source, but it essentially comes from the behaviour of some people, such as opportunists, in a hypothetical situation.
As an example, you and your colleague are on your way to the bus stop to go to work. You’re slightly late. As you approach the bus stop, the bus is pulling away. It’s approaching you, but you know the driver will not stop for you. You don’t want to be late for work.
In that split second, there are those people who are “friends” but won’t hesitate to betray someone in order to avoid being in trouble or get some personal gain out of it. The phrase is usually applied when people immediately shift the blame on to others (supposedly friends) without a moment’s hesitation.
So, in that split second, the person makes the decision to throw their colleague under the bus. The bus then has to stop, the friend gets the blame (and the full brunt of it), and you get the benefit (you are able to get on the bus and not be late for work).
The original study, analysis, hypothesis, or whatever it was, was essentially centred around the question: what would people do to get ahead? (For example, would you throw someone under the bus to get the bus to stop for you?)
‒ Anon March 6, 2024
It’ll throw a couple decades of British journalism and political culture under the bus to uphold its authority over the origin and accounts of heavily traded pop culture currency.
Quite an extensive list and tracing of [to be] “pushed under the bus” has been cataloged with print citations of that exact form dating back to 1971, while antecedent citations with other means of coming to be “under the bus” (including to walk, fall, go, and be dropped) extend through identified citations in print and television media dating back to the early 1960s. But only in the UK.
‒ Avi Leidner September 19, 2023
Donovan McNabb made the them popular in the US in 2005 when using it against teammate Terrell Owens.
‒ Anthony K Okoth September 1, 2022
As a Great Generation member, this idiom was totally new to me. In other words, true – it hasn’t been around very long. However, I liked it immediately. I felt it had been needed in our language. I often use SHOVE – ‘she shoved me under the bus.” it seems to fit more.
A similarly modern idiom is “Kicked to the curb”
‒ Susan G Dunn November 30, 2021
I said “sweep it under the bus”
‒ Anonymous October 23, 2021