20 Other Ways to Say "Don't Shoot The Messenger"

'Don't shoot the messenger' is a common English idiom that essentially means 'Don't take your anger out on the bearer of bad news.'It tells the idea that the person delivering the news or message should not be blamed for its content. The messenger is simply relaying information, not creating or controlling it.This phrase originates from ancient and medieval times when heralds carried written messages between kings, lords, and warriors.If the message contained unfavorable demands or declarations of war, the messenger risked being killed or injured before or after delivering the message.This highlighted the need for messengers to be given safe passage and immunity, regardless of a message's contents.Over time, the phrase has evolved into a metaphor for how we handle unwelcome or negative information.We often have an initial negative emotional reaction to bad news, but 'don't shoot the messenger' cautions us to control that reaction and direct our frustration toward the true source of the problem — not the innocent party relaying it.

20 Other Ways To Say 'Don't Shoot The Messenger' 

The idiom 'don't shoot the messenger' has been aptly relaying an important message for ages - control your reaction to unpleasant news and instead focus your energy on productively addressing the underlying problem. However, sometimes variety keeps expressions fresh and impactful.So, here are 20 other ways to convey the same timeless wisdom and remind the recipients of bad news to avoid taking out their frustration on the innocent bearer of that information:

• Don't k#ll the bearer of bad news.
• Please don't punish the blameless.
• I'm just relating the facts, don't shoot me.
• The message isn't mine, don't shoot the delivery boy.
• I'm just here to pass on what I heard, no need to attack me.
• I'm not the cause, so spare my claws.
• The message comes with no malice. Save your violence.
• The news is news, don't blame the bringer.
• The facts fly from another's lips, no need for your wrath upon mine.
• I only deliver, I do not decide.
• Don't kill the herald, the news is still true.
• The fault lies elsewhere, so no need to dismember the bearer here.
• The message comes from another source, so no cause to give me divorce from this discourse.
• Though the news pains, I do not aim to cause you strain.
• I'm but a paperboy, don't wreck my joy.
• Though the report's a dud, no need to draw blood.
• I'm just a relay, so no need to fray.
• The news might sting, but I do not sing this tune.
• My role's just delivery, so no need for fury.
• Though bitter the pill, I mean you no ill.

1. Don't k#ll the bearer of bad news

'Don't kill the bearer of bad news' is a way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger' that emphasizes the severity of the consequences.This phrase suggests that the news being delivered is so unpleasant that the messenger might as well be killed for delivering it, but it implores the listener to resist the urge to take out their frustration on the messenger.For example, a doctor has to tell a patient that they have a serious illness. The doctor might say, 'I know this news is difficult to hear, but please don't kill the messenger.I'm just the bearer of bad news, and we must work together to develop a treatment plan that will help you get better.’

2. Please don't punish the blameless 

'Please don't punish the blameless' is another way to convey the message of 'Don't shoot the messenger' which conceives the innocence of the messenger.This phrase acknowledges that the messenger is not responsible for the problem at hand and should not be held accountable for it.For example, a student who is responsible for delivering a group presentation, but one of their group members fails to show up on the day of the presentation.The student might say to the teacher, 'I understand that the presentation didn't go as planned, but please don't punish the blameless. My group member's absence was beyond my control, and I did my best to present the material on my own.'

3. I'm just relating the facts, don't shoot me

'I'm just relating the facts, don't shoot me' is a more direct way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger' that emphasizes the speaker's role in delivering the message.This phrase suggests that the speaker is simply reporting what they have observed or learned and should not be held responsible for the content of the message.For example, a police officer has to inform a family member that their loved one has been involved in a serious accident.The officer might say, 'I'm sorry to have to deliver this news, but I'm just relating the facts, and we must work together to get your loved one the help they need.'

4. The message isn't mine, don't shoot the delivery boy 

Another way to say 'don’t shoot the messenger' is 'the message isn’t mine, don’t shoot the delivery boy'. This phrase implies that the person delivering the bad news is not responsible for it and should not be blamed or attacked. It also uses the metaphor of shooting to emphasize the severity of the reaction.A possible example of using this phrase is:Boss: I’m sorry to tell you this, but the client decided to cancel the contract. They were not satisfied with our work.Employee: What? That’s ridiculous! How could they do that? We worked so hard on this project!Boss: Hey, calm down. The message isn’t mine, don’t shoot the delivery boy. I’m just telling you what they told me. Maybe we can try to negotiate with them and find a solution.

5. I'm just here to pass on what I heard, no need to attack me

'I'm just here to pass on what I heard, no need to attack me' is also another way to say ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ which is useful when you're relaying information that may be unwelcome or difficult to hear.This phrase emphasizes that you're not responsible for the message you're delivering and that there's no need for the recipient to direct any negative emotions toward you.For example, You're telling your coworker that their project has been canceled. You could say, 'Hey, I just found out that your project has been canceled.I'm just here to pass on what I heard, so there's no need to attack me. I know this is tough news to hear, but I wanted to let you know as soon as possible.'

6. I'm not the cause, so spare my claws 

'I'm not the cause, so spare my claws' is another way to say ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ because it is a creative way to say that you're not responsible for the situation and that you don't deserve to be punished.The phrase 'spare my claws' is a playful reference to the idea of a cat defending itself by raising its claws to an attacker.For example, You're telling your boss that the client has decided to cancel the project. You could say, 'Look, I know this is frustrating, but I'm not the cause of this. Spare my claws, okay?'

7. The message comes with no malice. Save your violence 

'The message comes with no malice. Save your violence' is a powerful way to say that the message you're delivering is not intended to cause harm which makes it a perfect alternative to ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’.It helps express that the recipient should not respond with anger or aggression. It's a strong statement that emphasizes the importance of keeping emotions in check, especially when receiving bad news.For example, You're telling your partner that you won't be able to make it to their birthday party. You could say, 'I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make it to your party tonight. The message comes with no malice, so please save your violence.'

8. The news is news, don't blame the bringer

Another alternative to saying ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ is 'The news is news, don't blame the bringer' This phrase emphasizes that the news being delivered is simply a fact and not something that the messenger has any control over. It's a way of saying 'Please don't hold me responsible for what I'm telling you.'For example, A doctor has to tell a patient that they have a serious illness. The doctor might say, 'I know this is hard to hear, but please remember that the news is news. Don't blame the bringer.'

9. The facts fly from another's lips, no need for your wrath upon mine

'The facts fly from another's lips, no need for your wrath upon mine' is a better way to say ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ which has a poetic quality to it and emphasizes that the messenger is not responsible for the content of the message. It's a way of saying 'Please don't take your anger out on me if the message makes you angry'For example, imagine a customer service representative who has to inform a customer that their order has been delayed.The customer might be upset and demand an explanation, but the representative could say, 'The facts fly from another's lips, sir. I'm just relaying the information. There's no need for your wrath upon mine.'

10. I only deliver, I do not decide

'I only deliver, I do not decide' is a diplomatic way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger'. This phrase highlights the fact that the person conveying the message is merely a conduit, and not responsible for the content of the message.It is a way of reminding people that they should not blame or punish the messenger for something that is beyond their control.For example, a manager has to deliver some bad news to their team, such as a project delay. After delivering the news, the manager could say, 'Please remember that I only deliver the news, I do not decide. Let's work together to find a solution.'

11. Don't kill the herald, the news is still true

'Don't kill the herald, the news is still true' is another way to say 'Don't shoot the messenger'. This phrase uses the metaphor of a herald, someone who announces important news, to emphasize the importance of the message.By saying 'the news is still true', the speaker is acknowledging that the message may be difficult to hear, but it is nonetheless accurate and important to know.For instance, a journalist who wants to report on a controversial topic. After publishing the article, the journalist could say, 'Don't kill the herald, the news is still true. We need to have an open and honest conversation about this issue.'

12. The fault lies elsewhere, so no need to dismember the bearer here

'The fault lies elsewhere, so no need to dismember the bearer here' is a clever way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger'.This phrase suggests that the person delivering the message is not responsible for the situation, but rather the fault lies with someone or something else. By using the metaphor of 'dismembering the bearer', the speaker is implying that attacking the messenger is a futile and counterproductive response.For example, a customer service representative wants to inform a client that their order has been delayed. After delivering the news, the representative could say, 'The fault lies elsewhere, so no need to dismember the bearer here. Let me see what I can do to expedite the process for you.'

13. The message comes from another source, so no cause to give me divorce from this discourse

'The message comes from another source, so no cause to give me divorce from this discourse.' phrase is a way to say 'Don't shoot the messenger' by emphasizing that the message is not the speaker's own and they should not be held responsible for it. It suggests that the messenger should not be blamed for simply conveying information.For example, if a manager delivers bad news to an employee, and the employee becomes angry, the manager could use this phrase to remind the employee that they are not the one responsible for the decision.

14. Though the news pains, I do not aim to cause you strain 

'Though the news pains, I do not aim to cause you strains.' This phrase is a gentle way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger' by admitting that the message may not be pleasant, but the speaker is not intending to cause harm.It conveys a sense of empathy and care for the listener's feelings. For instance, if a doctor delivers a diagnosis to a patient, and the patient becomes upset, the doctor could use this phrase to show that they understand the patient's reaction, but that they are only the messenger and did not cause the illness.

15. I'm but a paperboy, don't wreck my joy 

'I'm but a paperboy, don't wreck my joy.' is a lighthearted way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger' by reminding the listener that the messenger is simply delivering the message and should not be blamed for its content.It uses a playful metaphor of a paperboy delivering newspapers and asks the listener not to ruin the messenger's enjoyment of their job.For example, if a friend delivers some bad news, and the recipient becomes angry, the friend could use this phrase to lighten the mood and remind the recipient that they are not to blame.

16. Though the report's a dud, no need to draw blood 

'Though the report's a dud, no need to draw blood.' is an alternative to saying 'Don't shoot the messenger' by acknowledging that while the message may not be well-received, there is no need to become aggressive or hostile towards the messenger.For instance, if a salesperson delivers disappointing sales figures to their boss, and the boss becomes angry, the salesperson could use this phrase to calm the situation and remind the boss that they are only the messenger and not the cause of the problem.

17. I'm just a relay, so no need to fray 

'I'm just the messenger, no need to fray' is a polite way of informing someone that the bad news you're about to share is not your fault.You're just the relay, the person who has been asked to pass on the message. This phrase can be used in a variety of situations, from delivering bad news at work to telling your friend that their partner is cheating on them.For example, you are an employee who has been asked by your boss to tell your colleague that they didn't get the promotion they were hoping for.You could say, 'Hey, I'm just the messenger here. No need to fray. The boss wanted me to pass on the news that, unfortunately, you didn't get the promotion this time.'

18. The news might sting, but I do not sing this tune 

'The news might sting, but I do not sing this tune' is another way of saying 'Don't shoot the messenger’ which means that you are not responsible for the bad news and that you're just passing it along.This phrase can be used in situations where you need to deliver unwelcome news but want to do so in a way that acknowledges that the receiver might be upset or angry.For example, you are a doctor who needs to tell a patient that they have a serious medical condition. You could say, 'I know this news might sting, but I do not sing this tune. As your doctor, it's my responsibility to inform you of your diagnosis.'

19. My role's just delivery, so no need for fury 

'My role's just delivery, so no need for fury' is a phrase that can be used to communicate to someone that you are not responsible for the negative news that you are delivering to them.It is a way to calmly and politely inform them that you are simply the messenger and that they should not direct their anger or frustration toward you.This phrase can be particularly useful in situations where you are communicating with someone upset or angry, such as a customer who is unhappy with a product or service. By using this phrase, you can help to diffuse the situation and avoid escalating tensions.

20. Though bitter the pill, I mean you no ill.

'Though bitter the pill, I mean you no ill' is another way to say 'Don't shoot the messenger.' which communicates that the person delivering the news means no harm. It's a way of softening the blow and showing empathy for the person receiving the message.For example, you are a supervisor who wants to give an employee negative feedback on their performance. You could say, 'I know this might be tough to hear, but though bitter the pill, I mean you no ill. I want to help you improve and succeed in your role.'By using this phrase, you can show that you are on their side and that you want what's best for them, even if it means delivering difficult news.

Wrap Up

The phrase 'don't shoot the messenger' is an idiom that means not to blame someone for delivering bad news that originated from another source.While this idiom is commonly used, there are many other creative ways to express the same sentiment.No matter what phrasing you choose, the underlying message is the same: try not to direct your frustration about the news itself to the person conveying the information to you.They likely have no control over the situation. Shooting the messenger accomplishes nothing constructive.There are many colorful ways to ask someone to reconsider blaming the messenger. Hopefully, this article has provided some creative new alternatives to have in your back pocket for situations when someone needs a gentle reminder not to take out their anger on you, the bearer of bad tidings.