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
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Recent Examples of fall guy
In the end, the biggest loser on Sunday was neither United Russia nor Putin, but rather his fall guy, Medvedev.
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Kathryn Stoner-Weiss, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2011
And when his former leading man, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), accidentally kills Colt’s replacement stunt man, Ryder and his unsavory producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) hatch a plan to make Colt the literal fall guy.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
In The Fall Guy, Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, the titular fall guy, which is an industry term for stunt man.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The irony was that Mayorkas, who had witnessed the surge in unaccompanied minors in 2014, as Deputy Secretary, was perhaps the least convenient fall guy.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fall guy 
Kathryn Stoner-Weiss, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2011
And when his former leading man, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), accidentally kills Colt’s replacement stunt man, Ryder and his unsavory producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) hatch a plan to make Colt the literal fall guy.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
In The Fall Guy, Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, the titular fall guy, which is an industry term for stunt man.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The irony was that Mayorkas, who had witnessed the surge in unaccompanied minors in 2014, as Deputy Secretary, was perhaps the least convenient fall guy.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fall guy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall guy
Noun
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Prosecutors have not even publicly named the victims; The Times identified them through public records and law enforcement sources.Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
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For those looking to donate, The American Red Cross is working alongside its partners to provide shelter, food, emotional support and health services for victims of the LA Fires.Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Timberwolves can’t use injuries as an excuse for their 18-17 record, but their significant trade has thrown off their equilibrium, leaving them chasing the good vibes of last season’s conference finals run.Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
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The Knicks hope to get some rest and recovery before then, but Brunson refused to use fatigue as an excuse after the team’s latest loss.Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 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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Karen Carlson, owner of 5 acres in Ramona with donkeys, lambs, chickens, goats, turkeys and quail, was among the attendees of the Jan. 7 meeting.Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
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The Canadian beauty grew up on a farm surrounded by goats, bunnies and chickens, which led to her lifelong love of animals.Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Surgeon General’s advisory highlights real concerns but also risks turning alcohol into a scapegoat while ignoring larger systemic issues.Jessica Dupuy, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The newcomers make convenient scapegoats for Egyptians’ hardships, rights groups say.Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fall guy
Cite this Entry
“Fall guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20guy. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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