A fall guy is a person who is used as a scapegoat; someone who ends up taking the blame (or being held responsible) for the actions of another person or group. Someone placed in the position of fall guy is often referred to as someone who is "taking the fall." In the film industry, a fall guy is a form of stock character.
Famous quotes containing the words fall guy, fall and/or guy:
“That’s the convenient part about a fall guy: once you’ve got him hooked, you’ve always got him hooked.”
—Ketti Frings (1915–1981)
“In the stress of modern life, how little room is left for that most comfortable vanity that whispers in our ears that failures are not faults! Now we are taught from infancy that we must rise or fall upon our own merits; that vigilance wins success, and incapacity means ruin.”
—Agnes Repplier (1858–1950)
“Right now he’s suffering the cruelest tortures the Germans can devise. But he won’t talk—not as long as he can stand that punishment. And no human body can stand it too long—not even this wonderful, tough guy from Minnesota.”
—John Monks, Jr., U.S. screenwriter, Sy Bartlett, and Henry Hathaway. Gibson (Frank Lattimore? Walter Abel? Melville Cooper?)