patsy

¹

[ pat-see ]

noun

, Slang.

, plural pat·sies.

1. a person who is easily swindled, deceived, coerced, persuaded, etc.; sucker.
2. a person upon whom the blame for something falls; scapegoat; fall guy.
3. a person who is the object of a joke, ridicule, or the like.

Patsy

²

[ pat-see ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Patrick.
2. a female given name, form of Patricia.

patsy

/ ˈpætsɪ /

noun

1. a person who is easily cheated, victimized, etc
2. a scapegoat

Word History and Origins

Origin of patsy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of patsy¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Patsy McGarry is the Religious Affairs Correspondent for The Irish Times.

From The Daily Beast

Matt Bevin is a Louisville businessman and Tea Party favorite who sees the five-term senator as a patsy and a squish.

From The Daily Beast

Patsy went right to the phone to line up a wedding photographer.

From The Daily Beast

“Mom, you ought to write to Senator Helms about Mark,” Patsy Clarke quotes Judy as saying.

From The Daily Beast

Patsy Cline singing the devastating “I Fall to Pieces” before dying in a plane crash at the age of 30.

From The Daily Beast

It made me smile to remember how mature Patsy had been when I meekly ran her errands and gladly wore her yoke in the old days.

From Project Gutenberg

I joined the group and through a window beheld Patsy in animated conversation with what women could crowd inside.

From Project Gutenberg

“But the boys only wanted Patsy to see how the Injuns git ready for war,” defended Mrs. Davis.

From Project Gutenberg

Patsy had dismissed me, and there was scarcely room for me without my presence giving her annoyance.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps Patsy was the first white woman she had seen whose freshness suggested her own youth.

From Project Gutenberg

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