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Originally Posted by tw
The Wikipedia article does imply how the term 'Fall guy' could have been created. But it does not say so specifically. IOW is there a better source that specifically cited the origins of 'fall guy'? And is there a description of how the event eventually resulted in the expression - ie a newpaper reporter?
The term "Mission Accomplished" should be an expression defining another political method of lying - or how a nation can "Peral Harbor" another and not feel guilty. But I doubt it. What was it that made 'fall guy' so generic? Was this another creation of W Randolph Hurst?
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I did a Google on the origin of the term and another explanation is that it originated in Britain around 1906:
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A scapegoat, one who is blamed for the actions of others. For example, He refused to be the fall guy for his colleagues. This expression uses fall in the sense of “consequences” or “blame,” which originated in prison slang. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see take the fall.
An easy victim, one who is readily duped. For example, His friends had marked him as the fall guy—they knew he would believe their ruse. [Slang; early 1900s
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Perhaps Albert Fall's mis-adventures helped the term become a part of American English, as well.