What is what does it mean to fall on your sword?

Falling on your sword is a metaphorical expression referencing the act of suicide by seppuku, a ritual suicide practiced by samurai in feudal Japan. It essentially means to take responsibility for a failure or wrongdoing by resigning from a position, accepting blame, or sacrificing oneself in some way.

• Origin: The phrase derives from the historical practice of seppuku, where a samurai would use a wakizashi (short sword) to disembowel themselves as a means of restoring honor after failing their daimyo (lord), avoiding capture, or as a form of protest.

• Modern Usage: Today, "falling on your sword" is rarely literal. It usually signifies a humiliating but honorable act where someone willingly accepts the consequences of their actions to protect others, maintain integrity, or mitigate further damage. This could involve resigning from a job to take the blame for a mistake made by a team, publicly apologizing for an error in judgment, or accepting demotion to prevent a scandal from escalating.

• Implications: The person who "falls on their sword" is often viewed as a martyr, taking a personal hit to benefit a larger group or organization. It is seen as an act of self-sacrifice and integrity, even if the individual is not entirely at fault.

Here are some of the concepts highlighted as links:

• Take Responsibility
• Humiliating Act
• Martyr
• Self-Sacrifice
• Integrity