Dictionary definition of “throw (someone) under the bus”

throw (someone) under the bus

v. phr. to reject or betray (someone); to treat as a scapegoat; to put out of favor or at a disadvantage. Subjects: English, Sports & Recreation, Slang

Editorial Note: Thanks to Sam Clements for bringing this expression to light.

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Citations: [1984 David Remnick @ New Jersey Washington Post (Sept. 7) “Pensive, With Orange Hair Cyndi Lauper & Her Tunes on Tour ”: In the rock ’n’ roll business, you are either on the bus or under it. Playing “Feelings” with Eddie and the Condos in a buffet bar in Butte is under the bus. Peter Frampton is under the bus. God willing, so are the Bee Gees.] 1991 Erin Emery @ Fort Morgan Gazette Telegraph (Colorado Springs, Colorado) (Dec. 12) “Hood talks without thinking, friends testify at murder trial” p. B1: Dees said he talked to Hood after he bonded out of the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on Sept. 26, 1990, and warned him “that he was being thrown under the bus by Jennifer Reali.” But he said Hood believed Reali “was going to tell the truth.” 1993 John Nash Bangor Daily News (Maine) (July 17) “Tom Curley’s ‘passion’ returns to Oxford 250”: We got thrown out and learned to live on our own and then Oxford got thrown under the bus (by NASCAR). I guess we’re bretheren that got thrown under the bus and we found each other and decided we were a nice match. 1995 James Lawless Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) (Feb. 20) “Director Of Bureau Under Fire” p. 1B: We have benefited from having him here and I don’t feel any need to throw him under the bus.…He’s gotten pretty good results. He could use some help from his members, who could pay more. He has had some rough times, but you have to look forward. 2003 Stewart Mandel Sports Illustrated (Apr. 21) “Laying down the law”: Dorsey has the audacity to finish his career 38-2 instead of 39-1 and you guys are ready to throw him under the bus. 2003 Kevin Baxter, Clark Spencer Miami Herald (5D) (July 3) “Marlins To Enter Familiar Territory”: Those five games kind of put us under the bus.…It’s always a difficult series because we’re so similar. We match up well. 2006 Sports Illustrated (Oct. 1) “Report: Grimsley implicated Clemens, Pettitte, Tejada, others” (in Los Angeles): The affidavit also alleged Grimsley told federal agents that Roberts, Gibbons and Tejada “took anabolic steroids.” “What can I do? I spent one morning last year with Grimsley,” Tejada said Sunday before the Orioles played at Boston. “I mean, I already got thrown under the bus with (Rafael) Palmeiro. No, I don’t worry about that.”

Posted 2 Oct 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Have seen this used several times this weekend in coverage of the Foley mess, notably in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost .com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2006/09/30/AR200609300 1265.html
after the page jump:

“A House GOP leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, said that Reynolds realizes he has taken a shot at his leader but that it is understandable.

‘This is what happens when one member tries to throw another member under a bus,’ the aide said.”

by Ruth Czirr 02 Oct 06, 1116 GMT

The insurgence of its use seemed to originate from Josie Smith-Malave’s animated utterance on Bravo’s Top Chef, Season 2.

It may not have ‘originated’ from that incident, but it seems obvious that “being” under the bus is not even remotely comparable to “throwing someone” under the bus. One might even argue that the former is an analogy, while the latter is a metaphor.

by SCohen 06 May 08, 1208 GMT

SCohen, I wouldn’t say it’s “obvious.” For example, fewer people watch that show than, say, read the Sports Illustrated articles quoted above. For that matter, fewer people watch an episode of that show than visit this web site every month.

by Grant Barrett 06 May 08, 1246 GMT

Please re-read my comment—‘Obvi ous’ referred to the difference between the two, apparently different “under the bus” sayings. I.e. For a Rocker, performing in a buffet bar is analogous to riding under the tour bus instead of in it. The word ‘seemed’ was used in regards to the Top Chef (2.6 million Nielsen viewers) observation.

No implication was intended re the validity of the origin or use of either saying, in any genre. I would, however, postulate that, much like a child’s game of Telephone, popular sayings spread exponentially; so that the origins of their impetuses can be, and often are, exceptionally obscure (Hence, the forum for these discussions). It was actually in the spirit of that irony that I shared the observation. My apologies if I offended.

by SCohen 06 May 08, 0151 GMT