mettre sur le dos de
To have instinct
직역: To put on the back of
Use this phrase when you want to describe someone unfairly shifting blame onto another person.
15초 만에
- To blame someone else for a mistake or failure.
- Literally means 'to put on the back of'.
- Used when someone is being made a scapegoat.
뜻
This phrase actually means to blame someone else for something or to make them take the fall. It is like saying you are putting a heavy burden of responsibility onto their back.
주요 예문
3 / 6At the office after a failed presentation
Il a mis l'échec du projet sur le dos de son assistant.
He blamed the project's failure on his assistant.
Texting a friend about a broken vase
J'ai cassé le vase, mais je vais le mettre sur le dos du chat !
I broke the vase, but I'm going to blame it on the cat!
A heated argument between siblings
Arrête de tout mettre sur le dos de ta sœur !
Stop blaming everything on your sister!
문화적 배경
The expression dates back centuries, drawing on the physical image of the back as the primary place for carrying heavy loads. In French history, 'carrying the weight' was a literal daily reality for the working class, making this metaphor deeply relatable across social strata. It reflects a universal human tendency to deflect blame, a theme often explored in French literature and cinema.
The Pronoun Trick
If you want to say 'blame it on ME', you say `me le mettre sur le dos`. The order of pronouns can be tricky, so practice `me le`, `te le`, and `lui le`!
Not for Instinct
Be careful! Although some older dictionaries might list 'instinct' as a secondary translation, in modern French, this is 99% about blame. Don't use it to say you have a 'gut feeling'.
15초 만에
- To blame someone else for a mistake or failure.
- Literally means 'to put on the back of'.
- Used when someone is being made a scapegoat.
What It Means
Imagine you dropped a tray of drinks at a party. Instead of saying sorry, you tell everyone your friend pushed you. You just used mettre sur le dos de that friend. It means shifting the blame or responsibility onto someone else. It is not about instinct; it is about finding a scapegoat. You are literally 'loading' the fault onto their shoulders.
How To Use It
You need a subject, the verb mettre, and a victim. The structure is mettre [the mistake] sur le dos de [the person]. You can also use pronouns. For example, Il me met tout sur le dos means 'He is putting it all on my back.' It is a very active, descriptive way to talk about unfairness. Use it when you feel like someone is being blamed wrongly.
When To Use It
Use this when things go wrong at work or home. If a project fails and the boss blames the intern, that is a perfect moment. You can use it when joking with friends too. If you eat the last cookie, you might try to mettre ça sur le dos du chien (blame it on the dog). It works for serious accusations and lighthearted teasing alike.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for internal feelings or gut reactions. If you have a 'hunch,' use avoir du flair instead. Also, avoid it in very high-level legal documents. While common, it is a bit too descriptive for a courtroom. It implies a certain level of unfairness or sneakiness. If the person actually is guilty, just say they are responsible.
Cultural Background
French culture values accountability, but it also loves a good debate about who is really at fault. The image of the 'back' as a place for burdens is ancient. In the past, people carried physical sacks of grain or coal. If you added your sack to someone else's pile, you were literally making their life harder. Today, we just do it with metaphors and office politics.
Common Variations
You might hear se décharger sur. This is a bit more formal. It means 'to unload oneself onto.' There is also c'est le bouc émissaire, which means 'he is the scapegoat.' But mettre sur le dos de remains the most popular way to describe the act of passing the buck. It is punchy, visual, and everyone understands it immediately.
사용 참고사항
This phrase is neutral and very versatile. It fits perfectly in both casual conversations and professional environments when discussing responsibility. Just remember it requires the preposition 'sur'.
The Pronoun Trick
If you want to say 'blame it on ME', you say `me le mettre sur le dos`. The order of pronouns can be tricky, so practice `me le`, `te le`, and `lui le`!
Not for Instinct
Be careful! Although some older dictionaries might list 'instinct' as a secondary translation, in modern French, this is 99% about blame. Don't use it to say you have a 'gut feeling'.
The Scapegoat
If you are the one always getting blamed, you are the `bouc émissaire`. You can say: 'Ils me mettent toujours tout sur le dos, je suis leur bouc émissaire !'
예시
6Il a mis l'échec du projet sur le dos de son assistant.
He blamed the project's failure on his assistant.
Shows a professional context where someone avoids responsibility.
J'ai cassé le vase, mais je vais le mettre sur le dos du chat !
I broke the vase, but I'm going to blame it on the cat!
A lighthearted, common way to use the phrase with pets.
Arrête de tout mettre sur le dos de ta sœur !
Stop blaming everything on your sister!
Used to defend someone who is being unfairly accused.
Le ministre essaie de mettre la crise sur le dos de l'opposition.
The minister is trying to blame the crisis on the opposition.
Common in news and political commentary.
Il a mis l'accident sur le dos du mauvais temps.
He blamed the accident on the bad weather.
You can blame things on objects or conditions, not just people.
Pourquoi tu me mets toujours tes erreurs sur le dos ?
Why do you always pin your mistakes on me?
Uses the pronoun 'me' to show the speaker is the victim.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct verb to complete the expression about blaming the rain.
Il a ___ la défaite sur le dos de la pluie.
The phrase always uses the verb `mettre` (to put).
Complete the sentence to say 'don't blame me'.
Ne me ___ pas ça sur le dos !
In the imperative (command) form for 'tu', we use `mets`.
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시각 학습 자료
Formality of 'Mettre sur le dos de'
Used with friends and family to joke about small mistakes.
C'est la faute du chat !
The standard way to describe shifting blame in daily life.
Il met tout sur le dos de Paul.
Used in news reports or professional settings to describe scapegoating.
L'entreprise met la perte sur le dos du marché.
When to use 'Mettre sur le dos de'
Office Politics
Blaming a colleague for a late report.
Family Drama
Siblings arguing over a broken toy.
Excuses
Blaming traffic for being late.
Joking
Blaming the dog for eating the cake.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, that is a common misconception. In modern French, it exclusively means to blame someone or something else for a problem.
Yes! You can blame the weather or a computer. Example: Il a mis son retard sur le dos des embouteillages (He blamed his lateness on traffic).
It's not rude, but the action it describes is often negative. It is a neutral way to describe someone being unfair.
The opposite would be assumer ses responsabilités (to take responsibility) or prendre sur soi (to take it upon oneself).
Only if you are describing a situation where someone else was unfairly blamed. Don't use it to describe your own habits!
You would say: Ne me mets pas ça sur le dos !
You might hear faire porter le chapeau (to make someone wear the hat), which is slightly more informal but means the same thing.
Yes, even if you are blaming multiple people, you usually keep dos in the singular as part of the fixed expression.
No, it is almost always used for mistakes, failures, or negative events. You wouldn't 'blame' someone for your success using this phrase.
Extremely common. You will hear it in movies, news, and daily conversations every single day.
관련 표현
Faire porter le chapeau
To make someone take the fall (scapegoat).
Trouver un bouc émissaire
To find a scapegoat.
Se décharger sur quelqu'un
To offload one's responsibilities onto someone else.
Avoir bon dos
To be an easy target for blame.
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