Decoding the phrase 'Throw under the bus'

Meaning:

To be made a scapegoat, usually by a colleague. Or to be betrayed. In certain contexts, it can also refer to an attempt to distance yourself from a controversial figure.

Usage:

When a coworker blames you in front of the boss for not completing a project that in fact was his responsibility , its safe to say that he’s thrown you under the bus.

Provenance:

The phrase first popped up in the early 1990s and has been popularised by sports journalists since 2004. It gained traction with the mainstream media during the 2008 US primaries , appearing over 400 times in six months.

Used by:

Commentators of any sort, whether sports, political or simply office gossips.

Not to be confused with:

Throw over the wall, which means to pass on a project to someone else.

Staying power: 3/5