Sell someone out 💰🗣️👤

Meaning

To betray someone, often by revealing their secrets or by cooperating with their enemies.

Origin

The exact origin is murky, but the concept of 'selling' information or loyalty for personal gain is ancient. Picture shadowy figures in back alleys, whispering secrets for coins. The phrase likely solidified in the early 20th century, a time of espionage, organized crime, and industrial espionage where betrayal was a common currency. It conjures the image of a valuable asset—a person or their trust—being traded for a price, leaving the betrayed party exposed and vulnerable.

🔒 secrets 🎭🤥 deception 👑⚖️ power ☠️ risk

Sell someone out represented with emoji💰🗣️👤

This playful arrangement of symbols functions as a clever rebus, inviting us to consider the surprising ways we might communicate betrayal. Like a whispered secret or a deal struck in shadows, it underscores the fragility of trust and perhaps subverts the notion of what it means to be truly loyal in our modern lexicon.

Examples

  • He felt terrible after he sold his friend out to the boss for a promotion.
  • She refused to sell anyone out, no matter how much pressure they put on her.
  • The squirrel threatened to sell out the secret stash of nuts to the neighborhood blue jay if he didn't get extra acorns.
  • The grumpy gnome was afraid the mischievous pixies would sell out his hidden mushroom recipe to the grumpy trolls at the next fairy feast.

Frequently asked questions

Is "sell someone out" a formal or informal idiom?

"Sell someone out" is an informal idiom, commonly used in casual conversation and often carrying a strong negative connotation. Its usage implies a betrayal that is seen as dishonorable or treacherous.

What's the opposite of "sell someone out"?

The opposite of "sell someone out" is to be loyal or to stand by someone, often in the face of adversity. Phrases like "have someone's back" or "be a staunch supporter" capture this sentiment.

Can you "sell someone out" accidentally?

While the phrase inherently implies intentional betrayal, one could theoretically "sell someone out" unintentionally by carelessly revealing information that harms them. However, the idiom is typically reserved for deliberate acts of disloyalty.

Is "sell someone out" considered a crime?

While "selling someone out" is not a crime in itself, it can be a colloquial description of actions that lead to legal consequences for the person who is betrayed. This might occur in contexts like witness testimony or informing on accomplices.

Similar to "sell someone out"

Rat someone out
Both involve betraying someone, but 'rat someone out' often carries a more childish, tattletale connotation, like snitching on a friend for breaking a minor rule
Throw someone under the bus
Both mean to betray someone, but 'throw someone under the bus' implies sacrificing that person for one's own benefit, often to avoid blame or trouble
Betrayal
Both speak to a breach of trust, but 'betrayal' is a cold, formal term for the act, while 'sell someone out' is a more visceral, colloquial expression of that same deep wound

Opposite of "sell someone out"

Stand by someone
This argues for unwavering loyalty, directly countering the self-serving betrayal of 'sell someone out' by championing steadfast support even in tough times
Have someone's back
This champions mutual protection and loyalty, offering a vision of solidarity that’s the moral inverse of the treachery inherent in 'selling someone out'
Stay loyal
While 'sell someone out' is about the ultimate act of disloyalty, 'stay loyal' insists on the enduring strength and integrity found in refusing to waver, even when pressured

Related to "sell someone out"

Spill the beans
This phrase shares the territory of revealing secrets, but it focuses on the act of confiding or accidentally letting slip information rather than the active betrayal of 'selling someone out'
Turncoat
This noun describes the person who does the betraying, capturing the essence of someone who 'sells out' their loyalties, though the original phrase describes the action itself
Incriminate oneself
This is often the *result* of being sold out, where the information revealed by the betrayer leads to the victim's downfall, linking these phrases through a cause-and-effect relationship
Snitch
Related through the act of revealing information against someone's interests, 'snitch' often implies a less severe, more direct reporting of wrongdoing, whereas 'sell someone out' suggests a deeper, more damaging breach of trust