et tu, Brute

/ˌet ˈtuː ˈbruːteɪ/

expression of betrayal by a trusted person

et tu, Brute in a sentence

“When his partner voted against him, he could only say, 'Et tu, Brute?'”

Shakespeare's version of Caesar's last words to his friend Brutus

Related Words

bread and circuses

superficial appeasement of the public

Carthaginian peace

a brutal peace that destroys the defeated party

Faustian bargain

a deal sacrificing integrity for power or success

crossing the Rubicon

taking an irreversible step

Pyrrhic

won at too great a cost to be worthwhile

Roman à clef

a novel with real people disguised as fictional characters