Tank
Etymology
From the military tank, whose armor lets it absorb fire. In multiplayer role-playing games the "tank" is the character built to withstand enemy attacks while allies deal damage; the verb "to tank" (a hit, a boss, a cost) generalized from that gaming role into workplace and everyday use.
verb · /TANK/
To absorb a blow, damage, or cost on others’ behalf so they don’t have to.
What it names
It names the deliberate act of putting yourself between a threat and the people you’re protecting — taking the hit so the group survives. Borrowed from games, it now describes anyone who soaks up the criticism, workload, or risk for a team.
Example
I’ll tank the client’s anger in the meeting so the rest of you can keep the project moving.
Related idea
Distinct from the other slang tank meaning "to fail badly" (as when sales tank); this sense is about absorbing damage on purpose, not collapsing.