up to Idioms

Don't shoot the messenger

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The idiom don't shoot the messenger means that a person should not be blamed or punished for delivering bad news. The messenger is only passing along information, and isn't responsible for the problem.

The expression comes from ancient times when messengers carried news between rulers or armies. Sometimes the news was so unwelcome that the messenger was punished, even though they were not at fault.

I am just telling you what the teacher said, so don't shoot the messenger.

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