sacrificial lamb
Offered up innocent
A sacrificial lamb is someone or something offered up to bear blame, punishment, or loss so that others may be spared.
The phrase comes from the ancient practice of animal sacrifice, where a lamb was killed as an offering.
In modern use, the lamb is typically a person chosen to take the fall for a group's failure or wrongdoing: The junior analyst became the sacrificial lamb when the deal collapsed.
Unlike a scapegoat, a sacrificial lamb often goes willingly or is selected with full awareness of the outcome.
One blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- targetObject of pursuit
- blamedHeld at fault
framed · incriminated · implicated · persecuted · ostracized · black sheep · exiled · stigmatized
Sacred ritual table
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- templeSacred worship structure
- offeringSomething presented or given
- immolationSacrificial killing, often burning
consecration · ceremony · slaughter · paschal · Passover · atonement · propitiation · oblation
Victim for beliefs
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
- preyAnimal being hunted
- pawnUnwitting tool of another
- suffererOne who endures hardship
helpless · defenseless · abused · exploited · vulnerable · powerless · hapless · unwitting
Made for one use
- replaceableAble to be exchanged
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- collateralSecurity for debt
- fungibleReplaceable by equivalent items
dispensable · interchangeable · surplus · secondary · peripheral · unimportant · powerless · junior
Unmixed, without impurities
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- guilelessFree from deceit
- angelicDivinely pure and good
- sinlessFree from moral wrongdoing
immaculate · spotless · untainted · blameless · naive · unsuspecting · trusting · gentle
Recovery or moral restoration
- expiationRedress for offense
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
purification · penance · reconciliation · remission of sins · salvation · substitution · vicarious · blood price
Deserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- finger-pointingAssigning blame openly
liability · condemnation · reproach · incrimination · allegation · indictment · cover story · diversion
fall guy
One blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- targetObject of pursuit
blamed · framed · incriminated · implicated · persecuted · ostracized · black sheep · exiled · stigmatized · defamed
altar
Sacred ritual table
immolation · consecration · ceremony · slaughter · paschal · Passover · atonement · propitiation · oblation · libation
martyr
Victim for beliefs
sufferer · helpless · defenseless · abused · exploited · vulnerable · powerless · hapless · unwitting · doomed
disposable
Made for one use
- replaceableAble to be exchanged
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- collateralSecurity for debt
fungible · dispensable · interchangeable · surplus · secondary · peripheral · unimportant · powerless · junior · subordinate
pure
Unmixed, without impurities
- unblemishedFree from any defect
- guilelessFree from deceit
- angelicDivinely pure and good
sinless · immaculate · spotless · untainted · blameless · naive · unsuspecting · trusting · gentle · meek
redemption
Recovery or moral restoration
- expiationRedress for offense
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
cleansing · purification · penance · reconciliation · remission of sins · salvation · substitution · vicarious · blood price · ransom
culpability
Deserving blame for wrongdoing
- faultImperfection or blame
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
finger-pointing · liability · condemnation · reproach · incrimination · allegation · indictment · cover story · diversion · deflection
- atonementpropitiation, substitution, reconciler, forgiveness, sin offering
- offeringsburnt offering, altar offerings, sin offering, peace offering, oblations
- expendabledisposable, replaceable, dispensable, expendable, redundant
- blood loreblood rituals, blood magic, blood oaths, blood covenant, blood rites
- sacred firesacred flame, sacred fire, fire worship, fire ritual, fire rituals
- suckerssucker, lollipop, Dum Dum, Tootsie Pop, all-day sucker
sacrificial lambguilty party
One held responsible
mastermind · ringleader · instigator · wrongdoer · prime mover
sacrificial lambpuppet master
One controlling figures backstage
manipulator · scapegoater · kingpin · power broker · untouchable
sacrificial lambvillain
Wicked story antagonist
bad actor · wrongdoer · malefactor · evildoer
lamb, sacrifice, lambs, sacrificing, sacrificed, sacrificial, lambing, lambed, lambkin