Stitch someone up
Meaning
To falsely incriminate someone or to trick them into a difficult and unfair situation.
Origin
Originating in early 20th-century British slang, the phrase "stitch someone up" conjures the vivid image of a person being meticulously trapped or 'sewn into' a fabricated situation. The metaphor is akin to tailoring a garment precisely to fit, but in this context, it's about crafting a false narrative or an inescapable predicament around an unsuspecting victim. This dark imagery, deeply rooted in the underworld and later popularized through crime dramas, speaks to the careful, often malicious, construction of a false accusation or a betrayal designed to leave no room for escape, much like a tightly sewn seam.
Examples
- The detective's methods were questionable; it seemed he was trying to stitch the suspect up for a crime he didn't commit.
- My business partner tried to stitch me up by hiding crucial information, leaving me to face the financial fallout alone.