fall guy

American  

noun

Slang.

1. an easy victim.

2. a scapegoat.

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fall guy British  

noun

1. a person who is the victim of a confidence trick

2. a scapegoat

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fall guy Idioms  

1. A scapegoat, one who is blamed for the actions of others. For example, He refused to be the fall guy for his colleagues . This expression uses fall in the sense of “consequences” or “blame,” which originated in prison slang. [ Slang ; early 1900s] Also see take the fall .

2. An easy victim, one who is readily duped. For example, His friends had marked him as the fall guy—they knew he would believe their ruse . [ Slang ; early 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of fall guy

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

The attacking full-back had started half of their league and Champions League games but became the fall guy for the team's costly defensive lapses in both competitions.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

"Pakistan was very open in public in embracing its role as a mediator which certainly subjected it to certain risks, such as being viewed as the fall guy if things went downhill," Kugelman said.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Who else would’ve crowned journeyman power forward Gordon Hayward the fall guy in Kobe Bryant’s final game, the one where he scored 60 points and led the Lakers to a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2025

Carl’s duplicitous behavior, meanwhile, leads Roy to think his brother is planning to make him the fall guy for their mutual misdeeds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

I said they’re looking for a fall guy and you’re nominated.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• patsy
• scapegoat
• whipping boy