as in victim
a person or thing taking the blame for others
the sandlot ball players wanted the littlest kid to be the fall guy for the broken window, figuring that he'd have the best chance of escaping punishment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fall guy
National security adviser Michael Waltz emerges as a potential fall guy in the Signal group chat fallout.
—
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars sacked Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson on Monday in the NFL’s dark annual ritual of finding fall guys after the regular season came to an end Sunday night.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
Watching England as a non-white person can come with the fear that with many of the national team’s historic defeats comes a fall guy.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
Post-failure, Lumi is the subject of a government inquest, and Pierpoint has to send a representative who will act as the bank’s face and potential fall guy.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars sacked Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson on Monday in the NFL’s dark annual ritual of finding fall guys after the regular season came to an end Sunday night.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
Watching England as a non-white person can come with the fear that with many of the national team’s historic defeats comes a fall guy.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
Post-failure, Lumi is the subject of a government inquest, and Pierpoint has to send a representative who will act as the bank’s face and potential fall guy.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
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Here's what to know about Rogers' execution, including who his victims were.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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The victim, whose identity has not been publicly revealed, was bitten off the Port Noarlunga jetty on Thursday, May 15.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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If the Jets beat the Blues, those excuses transform: every piece of adversity turns into another reason Winnipeg’s success was all the more impressive.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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With its savory pantry sauce, this dish fits into my favorite genre of weeknight cooking: sauce + veg + protein + an excuse to fire up my Zojirushi.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself.—
Hugh Pope,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Oct. 2010
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The Republicans and their puppet master, Donald Trump, are ginning up the machine against immigration and making Mayorkas their whipping boy for chaos at the border.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
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This is a prime opportunity for parents to enjoy a morning ride while grandparents hang back with grandchildren to meet a baby goat, pet friendly pigs and, on select days, collect eggs from the henhouse.—
Margaux Lushing,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Those fine margins Arteta speaks of turn some into heroes and others into scapegoats.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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During an April 14 meeting between Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele that was ostensibly about the two leaders’ controversial deportation and detention pact, Trump abruptly brought up his favorite political scapegoat: trans women in sports.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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