be framed for

USAGE SUMMARY

"be framed for" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to be falsely accused or set up for a crime or wrongdoing. Example: "John was worried that he would be framed for the theft because he was the last one to leave the office that night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The best work will be framed for a class exhibition at the end of the semester.

The New York Times

Customers often arrive on Christmas Eve with something to be framed for Christmas.

The Guardian

She wore purple gloves for a three-month period when she was eight or so, lest she leave fingerprints and be framed for murder by parties unknown.

The New Yorker

"I don't think someone should be framed for murder," Mr. Breitbart said, "because they think he's the boss of the Bonanno crime family".

The New York Times

The lawyer representing the only witness in the murder of the environmental activist Berta Cáceres is appealing to the Mexican government to help secure his release amid mounting concern he could be framed for the killing.

The Guardian

In Alan Pakula's elegant and hallucinatory "The Parallax View" -- pretty much the only film, unless you count Oliver Stone's semi-fictional "J.F.K.," to address the Kennedy assassination -- Warren Beatty is an investigative journalist who uncovers a giant political conspiracy, only to be framed for the assassination and killed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

That bolstered Hall's defense claim of being framed for someone else's crime.

The Guardian

For Los Angeles County to acknowledge that O'Connell was framed for murder would be worth six million dollars, then.

The New Yorker

They are being investigated by a corrupt agent, while also being framed for murder.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Elvis Cole tries to help his private-eye partner, who is being framed for murder.

The New York Times - Books

Ashton's biography quotes Megrahi stating he was "framed" for the attack.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be framed for" when you want to emphasize the deliberate and deceptive nature of someone being wrongly accused. For example, "The evidence suggested that he was framed for the crime, not that he committed it."

Common error

Avoid using "be framed for" when the situation involves genuine suspicion or shared responsibility. "Framed for" implies a deliberate setup, whereas "blamed for" simply indicates attribution of fault.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be framed for" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the actor. According to Ludwig, the phrase indicates that someone is wrongly accused or set up for a crime or wrongdoing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

21%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be framed for" is a common expression used to describe someone who has been wrongly accused or set up to take the blame for something they didn't do. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct. It's a passive construction that emphasizes the deceptive nature of the accusation, often eliciting sympathy. Usage is particularly frequent in "News & Media" and "Science". While there are many alternative ways to express this idea, such as "be wrongly accused of" or "be falsely implicated in", "be framed for" specifically suggests a deliberate plot to make someone appear guilty. When writing, remember that this phrase implies a malicious intent and should not be used when simply attributing blame.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be wrongly accused of

Focuses on the accusation itself rather than the setup.

be unjustly blamed for

Focuses on the injustice of the blame.

be falsely implicated in

Highlights the false nature of the involvement in a situation.

face fabricated charges of

Highlights that the charges are not real, that is, they are fabricated or invented.

be set up to take the fall for

Emphasizes the deliberate act of making someone else responsible.

be falsely accused and condemned for

Adds the element of condemnation to the false accusation.

be scapegoated for

Implies being made a scapegoat to divert blame from others.

be a victim of a setup for

Highlights the victimhood aspect of being framed.

be made a patsy for

Suggests naivety or manipulation leading to the false accusation.

be deliberately misrepresented for

Emphasizes the intentional misrepresentation of facts.

FAQs

How can I use "be framed for" in a sentence?

You can use "be framed for" to indicate that someone is wrongly accused of something. For example, "He claimed he "was framed for" the crime he didn't commit."

What's a more formal way to say "be framed for"?

A more formal alternative to "be framed for" could be "be falsely implicated in". This phrase is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it different to say "be framed for" or "be blamed for"?

Yes, "be framed for" implies a deliberate setup, while "be blamed for" simply means someone is considered responsible, possibly without malicious intent.

What are some common scenarios where someone might "be framed for" something?

Common scenarios include "being framed for" murder in crime dramas, corporate espionage where someone is set up to take the fall, or political scandals where a rival is sabotaged.