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Definition 2024

don't_shoot_the_messenger

don't shoot the messenger

English

Proverb

don't shoot the messenger

The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for it.

Translations

the bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for the bad news

Dutch: geef niet de boodschapper de schuld
Finnish: älä ammu viestintuojaa
Italian: ambasciator non porta pena

Russian: горькие вести и гонцу не на ра́дость ‎(gorʹkije vesti i goncu ne na rádostʹ), (somewhat) желанные вести - мил гоне́ц ‎(želannyje vesti - mil gonéc), (somewhat) по вестям и гонца встречают ‎(po vestjam i gonca vstrečajut)
Swedish: skjut inte budbäraren
Turkish: elçiye zeval olmaz

References

Gregory Y. Titelman, Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, 1996, ISBN 0-679-44554-4, p. 71.