a scapegoat
Meaning: Someone blamed for others' faults.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The youngest employee was made the scapegoat for the missing stock.”
Category: Animals
Origin: From Leviticus: on the Day of Atonement one goat was sacrificed and a second had the people's sins confessed over it before being driven into the wilderness. William Tyndale coined the English word in his 1530 Bible translation.
Equivalents in other languages
- Russian: козёл отпущения (kozjol otpushchenija) — literally: goat of dismissal
More idioms — Animals
- poor as a church mouse — Extremely poor.
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- wouldn't hurt a fly — Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes — Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- not my circus, not my monkeys — It's not my problem, so I'm staying out of it.
- birds of a feather flock together — People with similar interests or character tend to spend time together.
More English idioms
- truth be told — To be honest about it.
- for the life of me — However hard I try.
- kick the can down the road — To put off dealing with a problem, leaving it for later.
- away with the fairies — Daydreaming, or not quite in touch with reality.
- drop the ball — To make a mistake, especially by failing to do something one was responsible for.
- come out of the closet — To tell people openly that one is gay or lesbian; more broadly, to reveal something kept…
From our compliments & insults
- Sei un tesoro — You're a darling — precious to have around.
- Du bist ein Schatz — You're a sweetheart.
- 目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai) — Said of someone you adore completely, often a child or grandchild.