Street
fall guy
What does fall guy mean?
A fall guy is the person set up to be caught and take the punishment for a crime committed by others.
"The crew walked while their fall guy did five years upstate."
Origin
American slang, early 20th century; from 'take a fall' (get arrested/convicted).
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'fall guy'?
A fall guy is the person deliberately set up to be caught and punished for a crime that others actually committed.
Where does 'fall guy' come from?
It is American slang from the early 20th century, built on 'take a fall,' meaning to get arrested or convicted.
Is a fall guy the same as a patsy?
They are close. A fall guy is specifically set up to take the punishment, while a patsy can also just be a gullible dupe. In practice the terms are often interchangeable.
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