whipping boy

noun

1. a person who is made to bear the blame for another's mistake; scapegoat.
2. (formerly) a boy educated along with and taking punishment in place of a young prince or nobleman.

whipping boy

noun

1. a person of little importance who is blamed for the errors, incompetence, etc, of others, esp his superiors; scapegoat

Word History and Origins

Origin of whipping boy¹

First recorded in 1640–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of whipping boy¹

C17: originally referring to a boy who was educated with a prince and who received punishment for any faults committed by the prince

Idioms and Phrases

A scapegoat, as in This department's always been the whipping boy when things don't go well . This expression alludes to the former practice of keeping a boy to be whipped in place of a prince who was to be punished. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

As creators and consumers, educators and entertainers, whipping boys, final girls, sidekicks and suicides, queer people have, often invisibly, sometimes tragically, always forcefully shaped American culture, particularly through the prism of Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times

Toyota’s faith in democratizing hybrid technology turned the company, once an environmental darling, into a whipping boy as it was widely accused of foot-dragging over electric vehicles.

From New York Times

"We have been described as the whipping boys of this group haven't we? Which we wouldn't have any other way," Sanderson added.

From BBC

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 Seattle Times

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

Related Words

• fall guy
• patsy
• scapegoat