Jemandem den Schwarzen Peter zuschieben — to slide the Black Peter to someone. The phrase comes from a children’s card game. The player left holding the Black Peter card loses. In everyday German it means pushing a problem, a fault or the responsibility onto another person.
Der Sündenbock — the scapegoat, from the goat in the Book of Leviticus that carries away the sins of the people.
Das Bauernopfer — the pawn sacrifice. A chess term for giving up a pawn to gain a better position. It is used when a senior official has a subordinate resign or be dismissed instead of resigning himself.