What Does "Throw Under the Bus" Mean?
"Throw Under the Bus" means to blame, betray, or sacrifice someone - often a colleague - to protect yourself or gain an advantage, usually in a way that feels unfair to them.
"Throw Under the Bus" meaning in business
At work, "throwing someone under the bus" means shifting blame onto a coworker, or letting them take the fall, to make yourself look better or avoid consequences. It is almost always negative - it implies disloyalty. So "I got thrown under the bus in the meeting" means someone publicly blamed you, often unexpectedly, to deflect heat from themselves.
Examples of "throw under the bus" in a sentence
Shifting blame
"He threw the whole team under the bus to save himself."
In a meeting
"I didn't expect to get thrown under the bus in front of the client."
Warning
"Be careful - she'll throw you under the bus if it goes wrong."
What to say instead of "throw under the bus"
- He blamed the team to protect himself.
- I was unfairly blamed in the meeting.
- She shifted responsibility onto a colleague.
- He let me take the fall for it.
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LinkedIn speak
Small wins still matter. I wrapped up a small internal reporting project this week. It made one repeated weekly task easier for the team, and it reminded me that useful work does not always need a dramatic launch. #Operations #Productivity #Teamwork
Plain English
I finished a useful internal reporting project. It made a repeated weekly task easier for the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "throw under the bus" mean at work?
It means to blame, betray, or sacrifice a colleague - often publicly - to protect yourself or avoid consequences, usually in an unfair way.
Is "throw under the bus" always negative?
Yes. It implies disloyalty or unfair blame-shifting, so it is almost always used critically.
Where does "throw under the bus" come from?
The exact origin is debated, but it became popular in the late 20th century as a vivid image for sacrificing someone for your own benefit.
What can I say instead of "throw under the bus"?
Try "shift the blame," "let someone take the fall," "scapegoat," or simply "blame [name] unfairly."
How do you respond to being thrown under the bus?
Stay calm, clarify the facts privately or in writing, and avoid retaliating in the same public way - document what actually happened.