<P> "To throw (someone) under the bus" is an idiomatic phrase in American English meaning to sacrifice a friend or ally for selfish reasons . It is typically used to describe a self - defensive disavowal and severance of a previously - friendly relationship when the relation becomes controversial or unpopular . </P> <P> On 21 June 1982, Julian Critchley of The Times (London) wrote "President Galtieri had pushed her under the bus which the gossips had said was the only means of her removal ." </P> <P> The phrase has been widely popularized by sports journalists since 2004 and was picked up by the mainstream media during the 2008 political primary season . It has frequently been used to describe various politicians distancing themselves from suddenly unpopular or controversial figures whom the candidate has previously allied themselves with . David Segal, a writer for The Washington Post, calls the expression "the cliché of the 2008 campaign". </P>

Where did the expression throw under the bus come from