shoot the messenger

English

Alternative forms

kill the messenger

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (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) 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

Finnish: ampua viestintuoja
French: tuer le messager (fr), tirer sur le messager
Polish: strzelać do posłańca impf

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