fall guy


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Wikipedia.

fall guy

n. Slang
1. A scapegoat.
2. A gullible victim; a dupe.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fall guy

n
1. a person who is the victim of a confidence trick
2. a scapegoat
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fall′ guy`


n.
Slang.
1. an easy victim.
2. a scapegoat.
[1905–10, Amer.]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.fall guy - a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage offall guy - a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
chump, gull, patsy, soft touch, sucker, mug, fool, mark
dupe, victim - a person who is tricked or swindled
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

fall guy

noun
1. Slang. One who is made an object of blame:
goat, scapegoat, whipping boy.
Slang: patsy.
2. Slang. A person who is easily deceived or victimized:
butt, dupe, fool, gull, lamb, pushover, victim.
Informal: sucker.
Slang: gudgeon, mark, monkey, patsy, pigeon, sap.
Chiefly British: mug.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

fall guy

n (esp US inf: = victim) → armes Opfer, Angeschmierte(r) mf (inf); (= scapegoat) → Sündenbock m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
The source, however, believed Eralino had tried to mislead the investigation by presenting Conrado Esteban, a police errand boy who later turned up dead, as a 'fall guy.'
2 cops arrested as suspects in lawyer's killing in Rizal town
Vladmir Putin turned into a fall guy after he tripped as he waved to crowds during a victory lap at an ice hockey match.
Putin slips up after his team skate to victory
But Dyche (right) said the keeper should not be the fall guy.
HART'S SUNK
WING MAN Tom grins at James & expert guide BUM-PY LANDING He makes it back to earth FALL GUY Yell of terror as James leaps out EASY, QUEASY Tom chills, James looks terrified
James Cruising at 15,000 feet.
Amid accusations that an arrested suspect is a fall guy, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is considering ordering the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the recent spate of killings of Catholic priests.
NBI may probe priests' slays
How can this seemingly innocuous scenario go so quickly and inexorably to hell in James Lasdun's new psychological thriller, The Fall Guy?
The Fall Guy
WORLD Cup "fall guy" Chris Robshaw has already emerged from England's disastrous autumn as a stronger Test match competitor, according to Harlequins teammate James Horwill.
Robshaw gets a new lease of life with England; RUGBY UNION
"I think Chris Robshaw became the fall guy for England," said Horwill, referring to the fallout after England became the first World Cup hosts not to reach the quarter-finals.
'Fall guy' Robshaw is stronger, says Horwill
He believes the two men know who killed his friends and was threatening him to have a fall guy. He said the men need a fall guy because they do not want blame casted on Thais.
Mafia-Style Family Emerged in Thailand
Since Valentine had been with Boston for just one year, he was an easy fall guy. Hitting coaches and pitching coaches are easy fall guys, too.
Farrell safe, but for how long?
They say he was used by Tory politicians as the fall guy for the cuts.
Troop cuts General to head Army

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?