Don't shoot the messenger 🚫🔫👩💼
Meaning
Do not blame or punish the person who delivers bad news.
Origin
The concept dates back to ancient times, when messengers carrying unwelcome tidings, whether military defeats or political decrees, were often met with harsh punishment, sometimes even death. One famous example involves the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, where the Athenian messenger Pheidippides ran to Athens to announce the victory but reportedly died of exhaustion upon arrival. Later, the story evolved to be about him announcing defeat. The sentiment of criticizing the bearer of bad news, rather than the news itself, has persisted through millennia, solidifying into the idiom we use today to caution against misplaced anger.
Don't shoot the messenger represented with emoji🚫🔫👩💼
This playful arrangement of icons functions as a delightful visual koan, not just the words themselves, but the very symbols chosen. It teaches the viewer a timeless adage through a whimsical lens, inviting a dialogue on the consequence of our reactions to information and the roles we play as both conveyors and recipients. Note how the simple emoji subvert the notion that truth must always be delivered with a stern face.
Examples
- I'm just telling you what the report said; don't shoot the messenger.
- The prices have gone up, but don't shoot the messenger, I didn't set them.
- The dragon has requested we pay tribute in glitter, so don't shoot the messenger.
- Apparently, the squirrels have unionized and are demanding more nuts, and yes, don't shoot the messenger.
Frequently asked questions
'Don't shoot the messenger' is generally considered an idiom. While it shares characteristics with proverbs by offering advice, its figurative use and origin story lean more towards the definition of an idiom, a phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of its words.
No single person is credited with coining the exact phrase 'Don't shoot the messenger,' as its sentiment is ancient, dating back to times when messengers were literally killed for delivering bad news. The modern idiomatic expression likely evolved over centuries to caution against such reactions.
A possible opposite sentiment to 'Don't shoot the messenger' could be 'Shoot the messenger,' implying that one *should* punish or retaliate against the bearer of bad news. This reflects an adversarial approach that the idiom aims to prevent.
Yes, throughout history, many messengers bearing bad news faced severe consequences, often contrary to the advice in 'Don't shoot the messenger.' Ancient accounts detail messengers being executed or punished for delivering unfavorable reports from the battlefield or court.