clay pigeon

noun

1. Trapshooting, Skeet. a disk of baked clay or other material hurled into the air from a trap as a target.
2. Slang. a person in a situation likely to be taken advantage of by others.

clay pigeon

noun

1. a disc of baked clay hurled into the air from a machine as a target to be shot at
2. slang.
   a person in a defenceless position; sitting duck

Word History and Origins

Origin of clay pigeon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Idioms and Phrases

A person easily duped or taken advantage of, as in You're a clay pigeon for all of those telephone fund-raisers . The term alludes to the clay pigeon of trapshooting, which replaced the use of live birds in this sport in the 1860s. Its transfer to figurative use in the first half of the 1900s probably is explained by the much older slang use of pigeon for “dupe.” Also see fall guy .

Example Sentences

He met Davison and "took his word" he wanted a shotgun for clay pigeon shooting and had no history of stress, anxiety and depression.

From BBC

The pair originally met in the early 2000s on the set of “Gigli,” which, for film critics, was essentially a movie version of clay pigeons.

From Washington Post

Ninth innings in the Bronx have become Clay Time, Holmes entering with cap pulled low like Andy Pettitte and picking off batters like, well, clay pigeons.

From Seattle Times

Jake Davison, 22, who was licensed to own a gun for clay pigeon shooting, shot and killed five people before turning the gun on himself on 12 August.

From BBC

Jake Davison, 22, who was licensed to own a gun for clay pigeon shooting, shot and killed five people before killing himself on 12 August.

From BBC