World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesPatsy
/ˈpæt.si/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A person who is easily taken advantage of, cheated, or made to look foolish.
"He thought he could easily trick his business partner into becoming the patsy for the illegal transactions." - 2
A person who is unfairly blamed for something that others have done; a scapegoat.
"The corrupt officials needed a patsy to take the fall for the financial scandal."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century, the term likely derives from the Italian given name Pazzi or is a variant of the proper noun Patrick. Initially appearing in underworld slang, it evolved to designate a person who is easily manipulated, fooled, or made to take the blame for a crime.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Patsy" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
bouc émissaire
Transliteration: book ay-meh-sehr
"Il a refusé d'être le patsy dans cette affaire louche."
Sündenbock
Transliteration: zuyn-den-bok
"Er wurde als Sündenbock für die Fehler des Managements benutzt."
capro espiatorio
Transliteration: kah-pro eh-spy-ah-to-rio
"Hanno cercato un capro espiatorio per coprire i loro errori."
chivo expiatorio
Transliteration: chee-vo ex-pya-tyo-ryo
"El inocente terminó siendo el chivo expiatorio del fraude."
bode expiatório
Transliteration: bo-dee eks-pyah-to-ryoo
"Ele foi usado como bode expiatório para proteger os chefes."
बलि का बकरा
Transliteration: bali ka bakra
"उन्हें इस घोटाले में बलि का बकरा बना दिया गया।"
替罪羊
Transliteration: tì zuì yáng
"他不愿意无缘无故地当替罪羊。"
희생양
Transliteration: huisaengyang
"그는 이번 사건의 희생양이 되었다."
身代わり
Transliteration: migawari
"彼は事件の身代わりにされた。"
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