Avoir bon dos is a French idiom that translates directly to “to have a good back” and means “to take the blame” or “be a convenient scapegoat”.
avoir bon dos
to take the blame
Example sentences
À chaque fois qu’on casse une assiette c’est moi qui ai bon dos!
Every time someone breaks a plate I’m the one who takes the blame!
Les étrangers ont bon dos : à chaque fois qu’il y a un problème dans la ville on les accuse.
Foreigners are convenient scapegoats. Every time there’s a problem in the city they get blamed.
Expression origin
The exact origin of this expression is unknown. Avoir bon dos (literally to have a good back) was originally used to describe somebody who could carry heavy loads. Later it came to describe somebody who was considered guilty even if they were innocent.
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