Comments on: Under the bus, to throw http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:19:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Tom http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-34012 Tom Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:47:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-34012 I think maybe the person who mentions Juggernaut might be even closer than they think. Juggernaut is an anglicized word for Jagann?tha the extremely large wheeled car used in Hindu ceremonies. The are a number of apocryphal stories going back centuries of people being sacrificed by being tossed under the Juggernaut. I found a number of references going back to the 1890s of people being "thrown under the Juggernaut of X" Implying their sacrifice to some unstoppable movement. A bus may just be the closest massive wheeled vehicle at hand to a modern western person. I think maybe the person who mentions Juggernaut might be even closer than they think. Juggernaut is an anglicized word for Jagann?tha the extremely large wheeled car used in Hindu ceremonies. The are a number of apocryphal stories going back centuries of people being sacrificed by being tossed under the Juggernaut. I found a number of references going back to the 1890s of people being “thrown under the Juggernaut of X” Implying their sacrifice to some unstoppable movement. A bus may just be the closest massive wheeled vehicle at hand to a modern western person.

]]> By: Dinku Bato http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-33741 Dinku Bato Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:41:35 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-33741 Inferences as to the origin of this idiom can be made in relation to the Jonah story in the Scriptures who was thrown into the sea to save the ship and the passengers. Hence, "throw someone under the bus" to refer to an instance of someone sacrificed to keep a bus that lost its breaks ((in the old days of mechanical imprecision) and speeding downhill. Inferences as to the origin of this idiom can be made in relation to the Jonah story in the Scriptures who was thrown into the sea to save the ship and the passengers. Hence, “throw someone under the bus” to refer to an instance of someone sacrificed to keep a bus that lost its breaks ((in the old days of mechanical imprecision) and speeding downhill.

]]> By: Steve http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-27375 Steve Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:03:48 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-27375 I worked at a restaurant called Casa Bonita in Colorado in the mid 80s that was used by tour companies and it was not uncommon to see 10-20 or more bus loads of tourists in a day. From time to time a late tour would call ahead and ask us to keep the restaurant open. Needless to say this did not make night shift employees very happy. In the summer of either 1985 or 1986 a group of employees who regularly met for a beers after work were discussing the practice and decided that keeping the restaurant open for late tours was just like throwing all of the employees under the bus. From that night forward, it was common to hear Casa Bonita employees talk about being “under the bus” or being “thrown under the bus”. Being “Thrown under the bus” had the similar meaning as it does now. Being “under the bus” meant to be behind and struggling to catch up. I worked at a restaurant called Casa Bonita in Colorado in the mid 80s that was used by tour companies and it was not uncommon to see 10-20 or more bus loads of tourists in a day. From time to time a late tour would call ahead and ask us to keep the restaurant open. Needless to say this did not make night shift employees very happy. In the summer of either 1985 or 1986 a group of employees who regularly met for a beers after work were discussing the practice and decided that keeping the restaurant open for late tours was just like throwing all of the employees under the bus. From that night forward, it was common to hear Casa Bonita employees talk about being “under the bus” or being “thrown under the bus”. Being “Thrown under the bus” had the similar meaning as it does now. Being “under the bus” meant to be behind and struggling to catch up.

]]> By: Chris http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-23049 Chris Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:12:14 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-23049 I believe that the term, to throw someone under the bus works in a metaphor as such: The "Bus" being stuck in the mud and the only option to get out is to sacrifice other riders, in order to get out. By throwing them under the bus, they are sacrificed for the gain of the bus to continue on, but at the same time, left behind and unable to continue with the bus. I believe that the term, to throw someone under the bus works in a metaphor as such:

The “Bus” being stuck in the mud and the only option to get out is to sacrifice other riders, in order to get out. By throwing them under the bus, they are sacrificed for the gain of the bus to continue on, but at the same time, left behind and unable to continue with the bus.

]]> By: Dany http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-21675 Dany Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:37:15 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-21675 Dag nabbit good stuff you whippensrappres! Dag nabbit good stuff you whippensrappres!

]]> By: Tony http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-20055 Tony Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:42:34 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-20055 Jim Rome has being using this expression on his sports talk radio show for over 15 years. So, most likely he picked it up from some sports guys. I think the bus is public opinion, day of reckoning, comeuppance ... when something bad happens, someone's got to take the blame, so you can step up yourself and take it, or you can throw Bill Buckner under the bus. Jim Rome has being using this expression on his sports talk radio show for over 15 years.

So, most likely he picked it up from some sports guys.

I think the bus is public opinion, day of reckoning, comeuppance … when something bad happens, someone’s got to take the blame, so you can step up yourself and take it, or you can throw Bill Buckner under the bus.

]]> By: William http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-20015 William Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:01:17 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-20015 Or it could just mean what it implies. There are two possible meanings of being "under the bus". Where i grew up the phrash was used not used so much as is suggested, but rather to imply that the person or person's should be made "unavailable" or to be kept from making any more trouble. Being "under the bus" meant to be where the luggage is... secure and safely out of the way. Not the more sinister meaning implying the want of the death of them or their actions. Or it could just mean what it implies.
There are two possible meanings of being “under the bus”. Where i grew up the phrash was used not used so much as is suggested, but rather to imply that the person or person’s should be made “unavailable” or to be kept from making any more trouble. Being “under the bus” meant to be where the luggage is… secure and safely out of the way. Not the more sinister meaning implying the want of the death of them or their actions.

]]> By: William R. Smith http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-20003 William R. Smith Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:55:07 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-20003 Minor league baseball teams frequently travel on the road by bus and stay in cheap hotels. If a new man joins the team and is not welcomed because of a bad attitude or a hot-dog personality, a quick way to have him off the team is to stage an in jury to a foot, ankle or leg...throw him under the bus and the team loses an unwelcome player....and the team prospers...at least for several weeks to recover from the injury,in which time his attitude will often improve. Minor league baseball teams frequently travel on the road by bus and stay in cheap hotels. If a new man joins the team and is not welcomed because of a bad attitude or a hot-dog personality, a quick way to have him off the team is to stage an in jury to a foot, ankle or leg…throw him under the bus and the team loses an unwelcome player….and the team prospers…at least for several weeks to recover from the injury,in which time his attitude will often improve.

]]> By: Dr. Bones http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-15430 Dr. Bones Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:34:28 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-15430 Perhaps it goes back to the philosophical problem of savings many lives by sacrificing one. There is a thought experiment that goes like this: You see a bus (or trolley or whatever) rolling out of control and about to hit a crowd of people. Would you throw yourself in front of the bus to stop it? Next question: you see the same bus rolling toward the same crowd, but your body is not enough to stop it. Another (larger)person is next to you and their body would stop the bus. Would you throw them under the bus to save the crowd? An alternate form is that all you have to do is throw a switch and the trolley/bus misses the crowd but kills one other person instead. Either way, the philosophical question is whether or not you would sacrifice the one for the many. (I'm sure Spock would have answer for this) Perhaps it goes back to the philosophical problem of savings many lives by sacrificing one.
There is a thought experiment that goes like this: You see a bus (or trolley or whatever) rolling out of control and about to hit a crowd of people. Would you throw yourself in front of the bus to stop it?

Next question: you see the same bus rolling toward the same crowd, but your body is not enough to stop it. Another (larger)person is next to you and their body would stop the bus. Would you throw them under the bus to save the crowd?

An alternate form is that all you have to do is throw a switch and the trolley/bus misses the crowd but kills one other person instead. Either way, the philosophical question is whether or not you would sacrifice the one for the many. (I’m sure Spock would have answer for this)

]]> By: Mops http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-15071 Mops Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:21:40 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-15071 When I hear this I always think of the Truman Capote story about Miss Bobbitt, "Children on their Birthdays." When I hear this I always think of the Truman Capote story about Miss Bobbitt, “Children on their Birthdays.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-13536 Anonymous Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:12:27 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-13536 I really don't accept as true with this particular article. Even so, I had looked in Google and I have found out you are correct and I seemed to be thinking in the improper way. Keep on producing top quality articles similar to this. I really don’t accept as true with this particular article. Even so, I had looked in Google and I have found out you are correct and I seemed to be thinking in the improper way. Keep on producing top quality articles similar to this.

]]> By: Me http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/comment-page-1/#comment-11078 Me Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:49:20 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/under-the-bus-to-throw/#comment-11078 I just thought it was obvious what it meant. Although, I have in my opinion heard it misused. It's two things. Sacrificing or blaming someone else (for your own actions) to save yourself Telling on someone or betraying a confidence is NOT throwing someone under the bus. Not if it has nothing to do with you gaining or blaming someone for your own actions. in other words blaming someone else for something you did. Is in fact Throwing Someone "under the bus" I just thought it was obvious what it meant. Although, I have in my opinion heard it misused. It’s two things. Sacrificing or blaming someone else (for your own actions) to save yourself

Telling on someone or betraying a confidence is NOT throwing someone under the bus. Not if it has nothing to do with you gaining or blaming someone for your own actions.

in other words blaming someone else for something you did. Is in fact Throwing Someone “under the bus”

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