Phrase guide

fall guy

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who is gullible and easily duped.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, informal, sometimes

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dupe, patsy, chump, chumpion, cousin, cull, cully, dotterel, easy mark, fall guy, fish, gudgeon, gull, juggins, live one, mark, mug, muggins, pigeon, rube, sap, saphead, schlemiel, sheep, simp, Simple Simon, soft touch, steamer, stiff, stooge, sucker

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A scapegoat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, informal, sometimes

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: patsy, sacrificial lamb, escapegoat, fall guy, folk devil, goat, Joe Soap, scapegoat, whipping boy

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chump, fool, gull, mark, patsy, sucker, soft touch, mug

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: victim, dupe

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: наивник (naivnik) — one who is easily duped
  • French: poire — one who is easily duped
  • Galician: papaleisón — one who is easily duped
  • Galician: miñaxoia — one who is easily duped
  • Galician: inxenuo — one who is easily duped
  • Hungarian: balek — one who is easily duped
  • Hungarian: palimadár — one who is easily duped
  • Hungarian: könnyű préda — one who is easily duped
  • Russian: простофиля (prostofilja) — one who is easily duped
  • Spanish: pardillo — one who is easily duped
  • Turkish: saf — one who is easily duped
  • Turkish: enayi — one who is easily duped
  • Turkish: keriz — one who is easily duped
  • Turkish: saftirik — one who is easily duped
  • Bulgarian: изкупителна жертва (izkupitelna žertva) — a scapegoat
  • French: bouc émissaire — a scapegoat
  • French: lampiste — a scapegoat
  • French: pigeon — a scapegoat
  • German: Sündenbock — a scapegoat
  • German: Prügelknabe — a scapegoat
  • German: Buhmann — a scapegoat
  • Hungarian: bűnbak — a scapegoat
  • Kyrgyz: жок жерден күнөөлүү (jok jerden künöölüü) — a scapegoat
  • Russian: козёл отпуще́ния (kozjól otpuščénija) — a scapegoat
  • Spanish: pagano — a scapegoat
  • Turkish: şamar oğlanı — a scapegoat
  • Turkish: günah keçisi — a scapegoat