cover someone's ass

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

cover someone's ass (third-person singular simple present covers someone's ass, present participle covering someone's ass, simple past and past participle covered someone's ass)

1. (Canada, US, idiomatic, vulgar) To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that a person is not blamed or punished for his or her conduct.
   • 2004 September 14, Jim Drinkard, Dave Moniz, “Secretary: Memos are forgeries”, in USA Today:

     Killian kept the files because "he was trying to cover his ass," Via said. "He was always worried something would come back on him."

Usage notes

Usually used reflexively (cover one's ass)

Derived terms

• CYA

Translations

ensure that a person is not blamed or punished

• Hebrew: כיסה את התחת (kisá et hatáḥat)
• Italian: pararsi il culo
• Spanish: cubrirse las espaldas, cuidarse el pellejo

References

• “cover one's ass”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.