throw under the bus

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To betray or blame (something or someone)

   To betray or blame (something or someone); to deliberately put (something or someone) in an unfavorable situation and then leave to their fate; to make (something or someone) into a scapegoat or otherwise abandon for personal gain.

   • "A person who does things for me and befriended me and helped me out when I needed help, I'm certainly not going to throw them under the bus," she said.
   • "I got thrown under the bus by BAE," she says. "They did not want to take responsibility, so they pointed at us."
   • Captain Tagon: So, all you did was serve us fast, before [chef] Ch'votlq could deploy his whisk of ruin? Liz: Please don't make me throw my new boss under the bus.
2. 2

   To discard or disown.

   • A recent magazine article discussed the need to throw under the bus worn-out cultural catchphrases, with the first being “throw under the bus.”

The neighborhood

• neighborfair-weather friend
• neighborhang out to dry