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throw under the bus

throw under the bus

Date: Oct 15 2009

Themes: Fashion

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“The designers do get into fights sometimes. They throw each other under the bus a lot.”

- Super-model Heidi Klum, talking about the contestants on her reality show, Project Runway. (US Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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blame someone, get someone in trouble

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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It would be pretty shocking to see someone get thrown under a bus on TV. But Heidi Klum says it happens all the time on her reality show, Project Runway.

On Heidi’s show, people who want to become fashion designers compete to see who can make the best clothes. Each week, the designers have a different challenge, like making a wedding gown for a picky bride or transforming a pile of garbage into a chic outfit. At the end of each show, Heidi and the other judges compare the results and decide who wins and loses.

None of the contestants want to lose, so sometimes they’ll make negative comments about the other designers, or do anything else they can to make themselves look good and their competitors look bad. They’ll throw anyone under the bus if it will help them win.

The expression throw someone under the bus comes from sports. Coaches often tell their athletes, “You’re either on the bus or under it.” This means that all the players need to work together as a team in order to be the best that they can be. But some athletes don’t want to just be part of a team, they want to be stars. They might throw a teammate under the bus if it would help them achieve the fame and glory they desire.

Has anyone ever thrown you under the bus? Would you throw a friend under the bus if it would help you get ahead in life?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“I can’t believe you’re going to throw me under the bus after all I’ve done for you.”

“He wants the job so bad that he’ll throw anyone under the bus to get it.”

“If we get caught, you can blame me. I’d rather get in trouble than throw a friend under the bus.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

VOLTS it refers to betray someone.
by VOLTSSuper Member!
old yeller to betray each other
by old yeller
to sacrifice; to treat as a scapegoat; to betray
by prakash.fca
_Sasha_ it means to treat smb as a scapegoat; to betray; to sacrifice;
by _Sasha_

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Comments

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ghetto7

United States

I regretted that I threw a friend of mine under the bus 18 years ago to achieve what I wanted.  Had I had a chance to apologize him for what I did, I would have done so then.

ghetto7

02:08 AM Oct 16 2009 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

in the war and in the love all is ok

 

saludos.

10:55 PM Oct 15 2009 |

alineberco

alineberco

Germany

There's a classmate of mine who throws people under the bus to reach his goals! That's an absurd!

07:16 PM Oct 15 2009 |

noguti

noguti

Brazil

hm… I completely think that throwing a friend under the bus isn't the right thing to do. But in contrast, humans have wishes and ambition, and sometimes they are capable to do everything to achieve their goal, unfortunately.

04:59 PM Oct 15 2009 |

Cool English Teacher

Brazil

Oh, yes, I feel like I've been thrown under the bus a few times in life so far. It doesn't feel good at all.  

04:41 PM Oct 15 2009 |

kevinaj

China

that's the dark side of human being, but as Jesus say: They will got the pay-off.

Just like a chinese saying: Never try the harm's way, and never fall in the harm's way.

01:37 PM Oct 15 2009 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

I don't really like some people throw anyone under the bus in the real world. It's no need to be mean to others!!!

11:33 AM Oct 15 2009 |

mickee85

mickee85

Philippines

You can't feel the true happiness by throwing someone under the bus. This is a rubbish decision anyone could ever made.

11:02 AM Oct 15 2009 |

Green Alice

Russian Federation

Throwing someone under the bus is for weak and dumb people. Really talented and brilliant people have no need to use this ugly technique.

10:27 AM Oct 15 2009 |

الساهر

Yemen

hi I love you

10:08 AM Oct 15 2009 |

chief_wang

chief_wang

China

I LIKE THIS EXPRESSION VERY MUCH. THE FACT OFthrow someone under the bus” HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND EVERYWHERE. SOMEONE TRIED HIS BEST TO THROW ME UNDER THE BUS, BUT FAILED. IN RETURN, HE OBTAINED HIS AWKWARDNESS AND SHAME BECAUSE THE TRUTH TALKS LOUDLY.

YOU DON’T INTEND TO HURT OR UNDERMINE ANYONE, BUT YOU MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO PREVENT FROM BEING HURT BY OTHERS.

10:01 AM Oct 15 2009 |

koxa

koxa

Ukraine

It's a disgusting option of human being…but this option exists and nobody can't be sure of using it,I think it depends on situation that can happen and you use it without any thought,subconsciously…it's only my opinion)...I would never throw my real friend under the bus! 

09:16 AM Oct 15 2009 |

stsscs

stsscs

Syrian Arab Republic

I don,t like this doing

07:44 AM Oct 15 2009 |

kiri10

kiri10

Philippines

Showing your finest ability on something is just like throwing someone's skill under the bus in a positive way. You don't have to utter negative words against someone just to get ahead. Be adept in whatever field of interest you are into if you want to smash your associates quietly. hehe!!

06:05 AM Oct 15 2009 |

Ellen Jiang(China)

China

If someone have this thought of throwing sb. under the bus,it expresses that he/she is not confident in his or herself.No confidence,you will lose in any matches.In other words,the one has lost if he or she wanted to throw sb.under the bus.

02:55 AM Oct 15 2009 |

tobossh

tobossh

China

I don't think it is a good even legal way to throw your rival under the bus. he will get my contempt if he compete in that way.

01:51 AM Oct 15 2009 |

julywidiawati

Indonesia

this sentence recalls me about a song that I heard twice but I still can't found out what is the tittle.

Fortunately, I never have someone throw me under a bus..But sometimes I saw someone did that to someone else.

01:42 AM Oct 15 2009 |

fedorame

fedorame

China

I was  thrown under the bus by someone, and I felt like he totally was a coward. all he did will make me look down upon him for good!

01:39 AM Oct 15 2009 |

phamtran

phamtran

Viet Nam

I think the competion is not good. They compete each other by the bad way

12:58 AM Oct 15 2009 |

fabsir

fabsir

Brazil

Throwing someone under the bus is a sign of weakness I think. You might not be sure about your skills nor confident about yourself. So you do whatever it takes as act of desperation.

11:25 AM Oct 08 2009 |

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