<P> "To throw (someone) under the bus" is an idiomatic phrase in American English meaning to betray 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 relationship becomes controversial or unpopular or inconvenient . </P> <P> The earliest known usage of this phrase was 21 June 1982, when 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 term throw under the bus come from
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