とばっちり

とばっちり
noun
getting caught up in; collateral damage
informal
1. getting caught up in; getting splashed; collateral damage
Suffering unintended negative consequences from someone else's actions or a situation one wasn't directly involved in.
とばっちり()けた
I got caught up in it.
上司(じょうし)機嫌(きげん)(わる)くて、とばっちり()らった。
My boss was in a bad mood and I got caught in the crossfire.
I got scolded as collateral damage from my friends' fight.

Etymology

Related to () (to fly) and ちる (to scatter) - originally referring to water splashing on a bystander. Now used metaphorically.

Usage

Describes being an innocent victim who suffers due to:

  • Others' conflicts or mistakes
  • Bad timing or being in the wrong place
  • Chain reactions of negative events

Common collocations

  • とばっちり()ける - to receive collateral damage
  • とばっちり()らう - to get caught up in (stronger)
  • とばっちり() - collateral damage comes

Register

Casual, spoken Japanese. Often used humorously or with mild complaint.