cover one's/your ass (CYA)
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cover one's/your ass (CYA)
Protect oneself in case of failure, avoid being blamed for something. This rather rude expression dates from the 1950s and may have originated in the military. It has since been used in many different contexts. For example, the McLaughlin Group, a television panel, used the acronymic form: “Is he a hero . . . [or] a CYA practitioner?” (July 26, 1987).
See also: ass, cover
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- kick (oneself) for (doing something)
- wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
- wash hands of
- wash one's hands of
- wash your hands of
- wash your hands of somebody/something
- wash your hands of something/someone
- keep in sight
- keep sight of (someone or something)
- keep sight of somebody/something