Pay for the duck - pagar el pato (Spanish idiom)
This curious Spanish idiom is used when someone has to take the blame for someone else's mistake. It's usually said in disgust. Let me invent three situations here where you might use it:
Spanish
1. Mi compañero no hace su trabajo y por eso siempre vamos atrasados en el trabajo. Pero como es sobrino del director, pago el pato yo.
2. Jaime tiró el libro pero la profesora creía que había sido Pedro así que éste pagó el pato.
3. ¿Por qué siempre se me echa la culpa a mí? Estoy harto de siempre pagar el pato aquí.
English
1. My partner doesn't do his job and we're always behind at work. But since he's the manager's nephew, I always get the blame.
2. Jaime threw the book but the teacher thought is was Pedro so he got the blame.
3. Why do I always get all the blame? I'm sick of being held to blame for everything that goes wrong here.
I hope you don't have to use this one.
Brad
