The phrase "took the rap" typically means to take the blame or accept responsibility for something. There are many alternative phrases that have similar meanings, such as "falling on the sword", "bearing the brunt", "shouldering the blame", or "accepting the consequences". Other synonyms might include "being held accountable", "assuming the liability", or "owning up to the mistake". In general, the idea behind all of these phrases is that someone is taking the burden for something that may not be entirely their fault in order to protect others or maintain the peace. Different phrases may be more appropriate in different contexts, depending on the severity of the situation and the nuances of the language being used.