sik6 sei2 maau1食死貓食死猫
Jyutpingsik6 sei2 maau1
Yalesihk séi māau
Definition
To take the blame for someone else's mistake, or to be made a scapegoat.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
This expression is a vivid metaphor for being unfairly held accountable for someone else's errors. It carries a strong sense of injustice and frustration, often used in workplace or social contexts where someone is being made a scapegoat to protect the actual culprit. The imagery of eating a dead cat emphasizes how unpleasant and unwanted the situation is.
Examples
This has nothing to do with me, why do I have to take the blame?
He always pushes his mistakes onto others, causing colleagues to constantly be the scapegoat.
Related words
Common phrases
to be made a scapegoat by someone
to be forced to take the blame
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being blamed for one's own mistakes. It specifically requires the element of innocence or being forced to take the fall for someone else's actions.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
