tirer sur le messager

French

Etymology

Literally, “to shoot at the messenger”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ti.ʁe syʁ lə mɛ.sa.ʒe/

Verb

tirer sur le messager

1. (figuratively) to shoot the messenger (to blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable for a problem because they brought attention to it)

   Synonym: tuer le messager

See also

• tirer sur le pianiste
• ce n’est pas en cassant le thermomètre qu’on fait tomber la fièvre