Un bouc émissaire

The French term bouc émissaire  literally translates into emissary goat or sent-out goat.  Le bouc is a billy goat, or male goat, and émissaire implies that this goat is sent out or dispatched.  The phrase refers to a person or group who is unfairly blamed for problems or wrongdoings, often to divert attention away from the real cause.  It's quite simply your scapegoat in English.

Now, when you send an emissary on a mission to someone else, it is quite rarely a goat.  At most, it might be a carrier pigeon, if you really want to send an animal.  But a goat, as adorable as it may be, flies a lot lower and is considerably less discreet.  Which begs the question: why this expression?

Origin

The expression has its roots in ancient ritualistic practices. The term originates from the "Day of Atonement" practice, also known as Yom Kippur, described in the Hebrew Bible. The ritual involved a high priest symbolically transferring the community's sins onto a goat by laying his hands on the animal's head. The goat was then driven out into the desert, effectively carrying away the community's transgressions.

The term "bouc émissaire" has evolved to describe an individual or group unfairly blamed for the problems or failures of others. It’s a reminder of how easy it is to deflect responsibility onto someone else, often with serious consequences. How easy: let's blame a goat!

Examples

L'entreprise a cherché un bouc émissaire pour justifier son échec.
The company sought a scapegoat to justify its failure.

Les médias ont désigné un bouc émissaire pour expliquer la crise économique.
The media designated a scapegoat to explain the economic crisis.