Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

whipping-boy

noun

/ˈwɪpɪŋ bɔɪ/

Definition

A whipping-boy is a person who is punished or blamed for the mistakes or failures of another, often as a way to vent frustration or avoid repercussions for the actual culprit.

Examples

When the project failed, Jake became the whipping-boy for the team’s shortcomings.
During the meeting, she felt like the whipping-boy for all the criticism directed at her department.

Meaning

The term originally referred to a young boy who received corporal punishment on behalf of a prince or noble child, thus serving as a convenient scapegoat.