English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Sell someone out
Meaning
The idiom "sell someone out" means to betray or inform against a person or group of people, often in exchange for money or other rewards. It can also mean to reveal confidential or sensitive information that could harm someone. The figurative meaning of the idiom is to act dishonestly or untrustworthily towards another person or group, even if it doesn't involve physical betrayal.
Usage
- When he found out about my plan to steal his boss's files, he sold me out to save himself from getting caught.
- My neighbor had been telling everyone in the neighborhood that I was a thief, and eventually she sold me out when the police came asking questions.
- After her husband died, she started dating his best friend, who sold her out and told everyone they were having an affair.
- When the whistleblower informed on our company's illegal practices, we were all shocked by how quickly he betrayed us to the authorities.
- My friend never kept his promises to help me, and eventually he sold me out when I needed him most.
Roots and History
The origin of the idiom "sell someone out" is not entirely clear, but it likely comes from the idea of betraying or informing against a person in exchange for something valuable. In the past, people who were accused of crimes could offer to inform on their co-defendants in exchange for leniency or money. This practice was criticized as being unfair and unethical, and it eventually led to the emergence of the idiom "sell someone out". The use of this idiom declined in the 20th century as people became more aware of the harm that betrayal could cause, but it still remains a common expression today.
Synonyms in English
- Rats on someone
- Turn someone in
- Betrayal
- Backstabbing
- Stab in the back
Synonyms in other languages
- Información en contra (Spanish) - "information against"
- Vendre quelqu'un (French) - "to sell someone"
- 職員犯罪溝通 (Japanese) - "employee crime communication"
- 報告 (German) - "report"
- Betrayal (English) - 議數 (Chinese) - "betrayal"