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whipping boy

noun

: someone or something that often is blamed for problems caused by other people

Full Definition of WHIPPING BOY

1
:  a boy formerly educated with a prince and punished in his stead
2
:  scapegoat 2
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First Known Use of WHIPPING BOY

1647

Related to WHIPPING BOY

Synonyms
fall guy, goat, scapegoat

Rhymes with WHIPPING BOY

Adonai, altar boy, attaboy, bullyboy, cabin boy, Charleroi, chorus boy, copyboy, corduroy, good old boy, hoi polloi, mama's boy, Niterói, office boy, paperboy, poster boy, pretty boy, redeploy, roaring boy, sonobuoy, teddy boy, Tinkertoy, water boy

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