tuer le messager

French

Etymology

Literally, “to kill the messenger”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɥe l(ə) mɛ.sa.ʒe/

• Audio (Lyon):

  (file)

Verb

tuer 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: tirer sur le messager

See also

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