don't shoot the messenger
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for it.
Register: humorous
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “don't shoot the messenger” mean?
The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for it.
Is “don't shoot the messenger” formal or informal?
don't shoot the messenger is generally humorous.