Meaning of fall guy | Babel Free

Definitions

1. One who is gullible and easily duped.
   derogatory, informal, sometimes
2. A scapegoat.
   derogatory, informal, sometimes

Equivalents

Examples

“Clemons's supporters have⟳ over the years given a different rendition of events. In the racially heated atmosphere of St Louis in the early 1990s, they say⟳, Clemons was made the fall⟳ guy. Of the four men who were charged with the murders, the three black men were all put⟳ on death row while the one white man is now free on parole.”

“Marples, who later fled to Monaco to escape⟳ prosecution for fraud, was the driving force⟳ behind The Reshaping of British Railways report⟳ published on March⟳ 27 1963. Dr Richard Beeching [who wrote the report⟳] was just his fall⟳ guy.”

CEFR level