Meaning of the word "shoot the messenger" in English

What does "shoot the messenger" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

shoot the messenger

US /ʃuːt ðə ˈmes.ɪn.dʒər/

UK /ʃuːt ðə ˈmes.ɪn.dʒər/

to blame or punish the person who delivers bad news, rather than addressing the problem itself

Example:

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Don't shoot the messenger; I'm just telling you what the boss said.

•

The manager was angry about the bad sales figures, but he shouldn't have shot the messenger by yelling at his assistant.

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