whipping boy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“In some ways, Yoo became the whipping boy for all the public’s anger at social and political elites,” Chun said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2025

The Wildlife Conservation Society, which would become an online whipping boy during the Flaco year, has noble origins.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2025

So over time, the kid from St. Louis - the one who grew up dreaming of playing for the Tigers - became the whipping boy of fans pining for their program to return to prominence.

From Washington Times • Sep. 17, 2023

“And it’s moved from an ideological whipping boy to a set of popular benefits that the public values.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2021

He'd been dreaming happily of his ragged but carefree life before he'd been plucked from the streets and sewers of the city to serve as royal whipping boy.

From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman