under the bus
To cast a person in an unfavorable light with others; to take action or make statements intended to put another person at a disadvantage.Origin: A Boston radio station manager
coined the term circa 1987-88 when canceling a radio
network's services on his music-oriented
FM station, stating that he was going to put the network "under the bus." The term was picked up by staff members to describe conduct in which one person would try to gain an advantage in company politics by speaking ill of, or doing something to reflect disfavorably on, another. In this context, it generally meant something that was a combination of sneaky, subtle and vicious. The phrase
crept into on-air talk. In time, the radio
station's owner acquired a sports-oriented station whose employees picked up the phrase and eventually began using it on highly-rated programs.
thrown under the bus
by speedork on Aug 18, 2006 08:27:50
1. To intentionally reveal
damaging or
unflattering information about another's character or
transpired event, while at the same time trying to make themselves look good or innocent in the eyes of the listener. To shift blame or attention in a cowardly way.
Example:
The
varsity quarteback was thrown under the bus by a
sophomore when the coach was told who toilet
papered his house.
throw under the bus
by Shell on Apr 06, 2005 03:41:23
Thrown under the bus
by Fozzie P on Jun 13, 2006 22:06:19
Phrase made popular by a small town
graphic designer in northern Michigan after watching two battling chipmonks attempt to
hurl one another under a fast moving
shortbus. Denotes an individual's willingness to sacrifice another's future and recognition for one's own gain. Blatant disregard for another's well-being. Betrayal.
Thrown under the bus
by Ninja787 on Sep 24, 2009 03:48:49
To be
thrown under the bus; A popular term at Boeing and possibly other corporate entities.
When someone either intentionally or unintentionally says something that makes you look bad or points out a mistake you made in front of your peers. This is similar to being backstabbed, but usually the circumstances are much more minor. This is sometimes used jokingly to tell someone that what they said may have
crossed the line, or they were stepping
on your toes.
throw under the bus
by Chris Zizzo on May 20, 2006 23:28:02
Physically throwing a person under a big, smelly
city bus is the perfect metaphor for the act of positioning someone to be
ground up under the wheels of the ever rolling
omnibus of society in your stead. The bus carries people. The people's weight is what crushes the victim. This setting up of a patsy has an earlier, more agrarian beginning in "throwing him to the wolves." Someone is going down, it's not going to be you, so you select a candidate to feed into the system.
throw under the bus
by Jeremy on Oct 31, 2002 04:42:37
You get
thrown under the bus when someone (usually a co-worker) reports some wrongdoing or
slacking off to a superior or other influential person. Sometimes used with the suffix "Vrooooom!" to simulate the noise the bus would make as it passes by at a high
rate of speed.