shoot the messenger
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English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
shoot the messenger (third-person singular simple present shoots the messenger, present participle shooting the messenger, simple past and past participle shot the messenger)
- (idiomatic, sarcastic or humorous) To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable for a problem because they brought attention to it.
- I know you won't like this news, but please don't shoot the messenger.
Usage notes
- Chiefly used in the imperative: don't shoot the messenger.
Translations
to blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable for a problem because they brought attention to it — see also don't shoot the messenger
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