take the fall

present singular third person takes the fall · participle present taking the fall · past took the fall · participle past taken the fall · alternative take a fall

1. especiallyidiomaticinformalboxingTo willingly lose a match, as in a fixed fight.
2. idiomaticinformalTo bear the blame or punishment for another person's failure or misdeed, either intentionally or not.

   It was good of him to take the fall for you like that, I just wonder if he will come out of this one unscathed.

   2 more examples

   You can take the president at his word after last week's sacking of MMS director Liz Birnbaum, the first in the government to take the fall for the BP oil spill disaster

   2010 June 8, “Economy Watch: BP CEO Tony Hayward to testify on Capitol Hill next week”, in Washington Post

   Trump has called this week’s deal “very strong,” even as he joked that his Vice President JD Vance would take the fall if it doesn’t work out.

   2026 June 18, Will Neal, “Trump Trolled for Biggest ‘Surrender’ at Versailles Since Versailles”, in The Daily Beast

   Synonyms: take the rap