take the rap

verb

To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the wrongful actions of another; to willingly allow oneself to be so blamed or punished.

Similar
carry the cantake the fall
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Meanings

verbtake the rap (third-person singular simple present takes the rap, present participle taking the rap, simple past took the rap, past participle taken the rap)

present singular third person takes the rap · participle present taking the rap · past took the rap · participle past taken the rap

  1. idiomaticslangTo be blamed or punished for something, especially for the wrongful actions of another; to willingly allow oneself to be so blamed or punished.

    Synonyms: carry the can, take the fall

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo be blamed or punished for something, especially for the wrongful actions of another; to willingly allow oneself to be so blamed or punished.

Similar
carry the cantake the fall
Also see
carry the canfall on one's swordtake the fall

Translations

Portuguese arcar com as culpas
  • arcar com as culpastake the blame
Cite this entry
APA

take the rap. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rap

MLA

“take the rap.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rap. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take the rap,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20rap.

Source: take the rap on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.