whipping boy
Meaning
- (historical) A boy who was whipped in the stead of a misbehaving prince in early modern Europe.
- Someone punished for the errors of others.
Synonyms
Translations
bouc émissaire
capro espiatorio
Prügelknabe
zondebok
chivo expiatorio
كبش فداء
αποδιοπομπαίος τράγος
bode expiatórioEtymology
First recorded in 1647. It is debated if this type of proxy punishment actually existed, or how widespread it was.
Notes
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