Idiom B2 Informal

Throw someone under the bus

To betray, blame, or sacrifice someone for your own benefit or protection

Meaning

Throw someone under the bus — To betray, blame, or sacrifice someone — often a friend, colleague, or ally — in order to protect yourself or gain an advantage.

Origin & History

The expression is relatively modern, becoming widespread in English from the 1980s and especially the 1990s and 2000s, first in British and then in American usage. The vivid image is of pushing someone into the path of an oncoming bus to save oneself — a dramatic act of self-serving betrayal.

Although the precise first use is debated, the phrase spread quickly through journalism, politics, and business, where it is often used to describe people who shift blame onto colleagues.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
When the project failed, the manager threw his assistant under the bus.Workplace blame
I won't throw a colleague under the bus just to save myself.Loyalty
The politician threw his adviser under the bus over the leaked memo.Politics
She felt her business partner had thrown her under the bus.Betrayal
Don't throw the whole team under the bus for one mistake.Unfair blame
He threw his friend under the bus to impress the boss.Self-interest

How to Use It

This idiom is informal and means betraying or blaming someone to protect yourself. It is used as a verb phrase throw someone under the bus, with the object (a person) placed between 'throw' and 'under'. It always implies disloyalty and self-interest. It is common in workplace, political, and media contexts.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

He threw under the bus his assistant.

He threw his assistant under the bus. — Put the person between 'threw' and 'under'.

She threw him under a bus to save herself.

She threw him under the bus to save herself. — The phrase uses 'the bus', not 'a bus'.

They pushed him under the bus at the meeting.

They threw him under the bus at the meeting. — The standard verb is 'throw', not 'push'.

Similar Idioms

Stab in the back Sell someone down the river Hang someone out to dry Pass the buck All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Throw someone under the bus" mean?
"Throw someone under the bus" means to betray, blame, or sacrifice someone — often a friend or colleague — in order to protect yourself or gain an advantage. It always implies disloyalty.
Where does the idiom "Throw someone under the bus" come from?
The expression is relatively modern, becoming widespread from the 1980s onwards, first in British and then in American usage. The image is of pushing someone into the path of a bus to save oneself. It spread quickly through journalism, politics, and business.
Can you give an example of "Throw someone under the bus" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "When the project failed, the manager threw his assistant under the bus." — used when someone blames another person to protect themselves.
Is "Throw someone under the bus" formal or informal?
It is informal. It is common in everyday conversation, journalism, and business discussion, but is best avoided in very formal academic or official writing.
What CEFR level is "Throw someone under the bus"?
This idiom is typically taught at B2 level. It is an upper-intermediate expression that appears frequently in spoken English and informal writing.
What are common mistakes with "Throw someone under the bus"?
Common mistakes include misplacing the person, saying 'a bus' instead of 'the bus', or using 'push' instead of 'throw'. The fixed form is 'throw someone under the bus', with the person between 'throw' and 'under'.
What idioms are similar to "Throw someone under the bus"?
Similar idioms include: Stab in the back, Sell someone down the river, Hang someone out to dry. These all describe betraying or sacrificing someone for your own benefit.
How do I practise idioms like "Throw someone under the bus"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try writing your own example sentences using the idiom in context, and listen for it in films, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "Throw someone under the bus" be used in writing?
Yes, in informal writing, emails, and journalism. Avoid it in very formal academic writing unless you are quoting or discussing the idiom itself.
Does "Throw someone under the bus" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "Throw someone under the bus" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: to betray someone for your own benefit. The idiom is widely recognised across all major varieties of English.