How do you say “Throw someone under the bus” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is sacrificar a alguien para salvarse, which literally means “to sacrifice someone to save oneself”. English speakers use throw someone under the bus to mean to blame or betray someone to protect yourself or get an advantage. This direct wording keeps the selfish motive. For blame specifically, use “echarle la culpa.” Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
sacrificar a alguien para salvarse
/sakɾifiˈkaɾ a ˈalɣjen ˈpaɾa salˈβaɾse/
- Literal meaning
- “to sacrifice someone to save oneself”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
88 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Sacrificar a alguien para salvarse” keeps the selfish motive: someone else suffers so the speaker can protect themselves.
“Echarle la culpa” is more precise when the issue is blame. The horses expression is stronger and suggests exposing someone to attack, which may overstate a small workplace dispute.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
echarle la culpa a alguien
Literally: “to throw the blame onto someone”
Best when the action is shifting blame; explain if the blame is unfair.
dejar a alguien a los pies de los caballos
Literally: “to leave someone at the horses' feet”
A stronger idiom for exposing someone to attack, particularly associated with Spain.
In context
English
He threw his colleague under the bus to save his own job.
Spanish
Sacrificó a su compañero para salvar su propio puesto.
English
Don't throw me under the bus; you made that decision too.
Spanish
No me eches toda la culpa; tú también tomaste esa decisión.
Related expressions
- What “Throw someone under the bus” means in English
- Leave someone high and dry, Leave someone stranded without support.
- Face the music, Accept unpleasant consequences for your actions
Last updated 2026-09-16