fall guy

noun

, Slang.

1. an easy victim.
2. a scapegoat.

fall guy

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fall guy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

When asked if he was the "fall guy" for Mr McGregor, Mr Lawrence said "not in a million years".

From BBC

He has spent hundreds of dollars on Hot Wheels and is always on the hunt for new ones that replicate vehicles he’s owned or that were featured on TV shows he watched when he was younger, such as “The Fall Guy” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

From Los Angeles Times

Amid fall training camp, Toia reinforced the respect aspect of that culture by buying popcorn and drinks for teammates during an outing to watch “The Fall Guy.”

From Los Angeles Times

The $56-million opening weekend outdistanced other heavily hyped fare such as “The Fall Guy” and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jazz played low as dusk settled over the coast and Thomas, 66, who in the 1980s was a pin-up sensation and a star in the TV series “The Fall Guy,” spoke of the upcoming election and recounted her decades as a political activist and fundraiser.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• patsy
• scapegoat
• whipping boy