Dictionary
lightning rod
noun
: a metal rod that is placed on a building and connected with the ground below to protect the building from being damaged by lightning
: someone or something that attracts criticism or gets blamed when things go wrong
Full Definition of LIGHTNING ROD
1
: a grounded metallic rod set up on a structure (as a building) to protect it from lightning
2
: one that serves to divert attack from another
3
: one that is a frequent target of criticism or focus of controversy <she has become a convenient lightning rod for voters' discontent with law-and-order issues — Aric Press et al.>
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First Known Use of LIGHTNING ROD
1773
Rhymes with LIGHTNING ROD
accolade, amphipod, arthropod, bigarade, carbonnade, cattle prod, chiffonade, decapod, defilade, demigod, diplopod, dowsing rod, enfilade, escalade, esplanade, firing squad, flying squad, fusillade, gallopade, gastropod, goldenrod, hexapod, isopod, lycopod, monkeypod, monopod, Novgorod, Novi Sad, octopod, piston rod, promenade, pseudopod, rémoulade, rhizopod, spinning rod, tapenade, tetrapod, theropod, traverse rod
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