whipping boys
Designated fault-takers
Whipping boys were boys educated alongside princes who received corporal punishment in the prince's place, since striking royalty was forbidden.
The term now describes anyone who takes blame or punishment for others' failings: The press secretary became the administration's whipping boy.
Unlike a scapegoat, a whipping boy is typically a person rather than an abstract target.
- patsiesScapegoats or easy victims
- fall guysThose blamed for others
- surrogateOne acting for another
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
easy target · punching bag · victim · martyr · courtier · royal court · princeling · blame · passing the buck · punishment · feudalism · proxy · deflection · responsibility · mistreatment · privilege · butts · monarchy
whipping boyssacred cows
Immune-to-criticism institutions
untouchables · protected classes · masterminds · puppet masters · escape artists
whipping boysfavorites
Most preferred choices
fair-haired boys · chosen ones · darlings · teacher's pets · blue-eyed boys
whipping boyswrongdoers
People who commit misdeeds
malefactors · untouchables · sacred cows · perpetrators · offenders
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