The French expression “avoir bon dos” translates literally to ‘to have a good back’. English meanings include:
- to take the blame
- to be a convenient scapegoat
- to be a convenient whipping boy
- to be the fall guy
This idiom can be used in connection with people and businesses. Here’s an example sentence:
- 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!
In French you can also say, “assumer le blâme”, to assume or take the blame. In addition, a “bouc émissaire” is a scapegoat.
Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho and have helped hundreds of students to learn French via Skype or Zoom since 2014. 
