lightning rod
Grounded metal spire
A lightning rod is a metal rod mounted on a building to conduct electrical discharge safely to the ground, preventing fire or structural damage.
Figuratively, a lightning rod is a person or thing that attracts criticism, controversy, or blame: The new policy became a lightning rod for public outrage.
She served as a lightning rod for the administration's critics.
One who directs musicians
- groundingConnecting to earth
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- metalHard conductive solid
- earthingElectrical safety connection
arrester · surge protector · Franklin · electrode · terminal · cable · wire · insulator
Connecting to earth
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- safetyFreedom from harm
- arresterOne who detains
- surge protectorElectrical overflow shield
deflector · bypass · mitigation · safeguard · prevention · insulation · earthing · interception
Death from electrical current
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- surgeSudden powerful increase
high-voltage · hazard · fatality · flashover · thunderbolt · discharge · spark · plasma
Causing sharp division
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
firebrand · agitator · incendiary · hot-button · debate · dissent · flashpoint · wedge issue
Unfairly blamed person
- targetObject of pursuit
- magnetObject producing attractive field
- focal pointCenter of interest
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
criticism · controversy · attention · backlash · deflection · distraction · fall guy · whipping boy
conductor
One who directs musicians
earthing · arrester · surge protector · Franklin · electrode · terminal · cable · wire · insulator · circuit
grounding
Connecting to earth
surge protector · deflector · bypass · mitigation · safeguard · prevention · insulation · earthing · interception · overvoltage
electrocution
Death from electrical current
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
surge · high-voltage · hazard · fatality · flashover · thunderbolt · discharge · spark · plasma · ionization
polarizing
Causing sharp division
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
inflammatory · firebrand · agitator · incendiary · hot-button · debate · dissent · flashpoint · wedge issue · catalyst
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
- targetObject of pursuit
- magnetObject producing attractive field
- focal pointCenter of interest
blame · criticism · controversy · attention · backlash · deflection · distraction · fall guy · whipping boy · punching bag
spire
Tapering architectural peak
turret · belfry · weathervane · antenna · mast · chimney · dome · pinnacle · rooftop · tower
- Georgian Inventionsspinning jenny, cotton gin, steam engine, power loom, flying shuttle
- lighthouse partstower, fresnel lens, gallery, light beam, rotating light
- building protectionfireproofing, insulation, waterproofing, fire alarm, sprinkler
- inventionsprinting press, steam engine, lightbulb, light bulb, microscope
- Lightningbolt, flash, thunderbolt, cloud-to-ground, intracloud
- rodsrod, dowel, steel rod, glass rod, curtain rod
lightning rodinsulator
Substance resisting energy flow
electrical insulator · non-conductor · rubber · dielectric · glass
lightning roddeflector
Something that redirects
gray man · wallflower · scapegoat · shield · invisible hand
lightning rodliability
Legal or financial obligation
vulnerability · weak point · Achilles heel · exposure · hazard