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to take the rap
01
to accept blame or punishment, especially for one's own actions or for someone else's wrongdoing
Idiom
Slang
What does "to take the rap" mean in slang?
The phrase "to take the rap" means to accept blame or punishment for something, whether or not you were fully responsible. The structure comes from "rap" meaning a criminal charge or accusation. It is commonly used in informal speech to describe someone who is held accountable, often unfairly, for a mistake, crime, or group action.
Examples
He decided to take the rap for breaking the vase.
