Take a fall Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈteɪk/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈfɑɫ/, /ˈfɔɫ

TAYK-uh-FAWL

UK

tˈeɪk/ /æɪ/ /fˈɔːl

TAYK-uh-FAWL

Definition

To fall down, literally or intentionally; also, to take the blame for something, especially as part of an arrangement or cover-up.

Usage & Nuances

Informal. In sports, 'take a fall' means losing or falling down intentionally. In crime or casual speech, it means accepting blame, often to protect someone else. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.

• Spanish: caerse - dejarse caer (deporte) - aceptar la culpa (coloq.)
• Portuguese (BR): levar um tombo - cair (intencionalmente, esporte) - assumir a culpa (gíria)
• Portuguese (PT): levar um tombo - cair (intencionalmente, desporto) - assumir a culpa (gíria)
• Chinese (Simplified): 摔倒 - 故意摔倒（体育） - 替人背黑锅（俚语）
• Chinese (Traditional): 摔倒 - 故意摔倒（體育） - 替人背黑鍋（俚語）
• Hindi: गिर जाना - जानबूझकर गिरना (खेल) - किसी और की गलती अपने ऊपर लेना (स्लैंग)
• Arabic: السقوط - إسقاط النفس عمداً (رياضة) - تحمل اللوم بدلاً من شخص آخر (عامية)
• Bengali: পড়ে যাওয়া - ইচ্ছাকৃত হার মানা - দোষ স্বীকার করা (অন্যের জন্য)
• Russian: упасть - проиграть нарочно - взять вину на себя
• Japanese: 倒れる - 故意に負ける - 罪をかぶる
• Vietnamese: ngã xuống - cố ý thua - nhận tội thay
• Korean: 넘어지다 - 일부러 패배하다 - 대신 책임지다
• Turkish: düşmek - bilerek kaybetmek - suçu üstlenmek
• Urdu: گر جانا - جان بوجھ کر ہارنا - کسی کے لیے الزام لینا
• Indonesian: jatuh - kalah dengan sengaja - mengaku bersalah demi orang lain

Example Sentences

The boxer agreed to take a fall in the last round.

basic

Sometimes people take a fall to help their friends.

basic

He had to take a fall because his team told him to.

basic

Rumor is, she was paid to take a fall in the finals.

natural

He’s a good guy—he would take a fall for his friends any day.

natural

The cop asked if I’d take a fall for my brother, but I refused.

natural