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.

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

Greg, on the other hand, is a tool – frequently a whipping boy, sometimes a human shield, lately a corporate guillotine.

From Salon • May 15, 2023

Instead, Sen. Nancy Skinner had to file Senate Bill 206 five years later, outfoxing higher education leaders everywhere, not just Emmert, their whipping boy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2022

“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 glared icily at the whipping boy who had seized his royal title.

From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman