What Does ‘Throw Under the Bus’ Mean?

If you’ve recently entered the job market, you might be finding that the level of conversation between your peers and supervisors is peppered with corporate jargon. A common phrase you may hear is “throw under the bus.” On its face, this phrase is vague and the implications may not be immediately clear. Knowing what it means, however, can help you navigate office politics, have productive team conversations, and increase visibility to your superiors.

Put simply, “throwing someone under the bus” means to blame them for an issue that you or someone at your company created. It implies that you are intentionally and selfishly scapegoating them for something that you caused. This expression is not confined to the workplace – it’s very common to hear it in everyday conversations too.

An example of how this could happen in the workplace might involve being assigned a responsibility or task and then having it taken away from you and given to someone else. Through conversations with your supervisor or coworkers, your input might be brushed aside or worse, you might be blamed for the sense of urgency created by the changing expectations. Being thrown under the bus in this way could lead to a feeling of helplessness and a lack of confidence in future conversations.

In its most extreme form, this type of behavior can be damaging to one’s career. It can lead to demotions or even firing. In a more mild scenario it may simply lead to feelings of distrust or hurt which, although more difficult to measure, affect team morale just as surely.

In a work culture that increasingly emphasizes cooperation, it’s important to look out for signs that you (or someone on your team) could be thrown under the bus. This could include things like feeling unappreciated for a job that was successful, or not receiving credit for a project that was successful. These are cues that something is not quite right. Having an understanding of when this kind of behavior is happening can help you protect yourself, and others, from its worse consequences.

At this point in your career, understanding situations such as being thrown under the bus is more important than ever. Being able to recognize the signs and being proactive in communicating and addressing these issues can be critical in protecting your career and building trust in your workplace.