a whipping boy

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a whipping boy

someone or something that is blamed or punished for problems that are caused by someone or something else Television has been the favourite whipping boy of every social reformer in modern America.

See also: boy, whipping

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We have somehow turned out to be a whipping boy, there is a long history to that. "Stop blaming Pakistan," diplomat by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) The Buddies boss said: "Kirk's been a whipping boy in certain quarters. I KNEW KIRK WOULD FIT IN by Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) When things go wrong, we tend to look for a whipping boy. Letter: Your Say - Prime Minister Gordon Brown by Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England)			a toy boy a track record a train of thought a Trojan horse a trump card a turf war a turkey shoot a turn of phrase a turn of the screw a two-way street a vicious circle a voice in the wilderness a volte-face a wake-up call a walk of life a war of words A watched pot never boils a way of life a weak link a wet blanket a wet dream a whale of a a whale of a [bill etc.] a whale of a [job etc.] a whip-round a whipping boy a whistle-stop tour a white elephant a white knight a white lie a whizz-kid a whole new ball game a wide boy a wild card a wild-goose chase a wise guy a wish list a witch-hunt a wolf in sheep's clothing a wolf whistle A woman's place is in the home A woman's work is never done a word to the wise a working over a world of difference a worm's eye view a yes man a zero-sum game a/ place in the sun a/ smart mouth abandon			A way to say ok A Way With Words Foundation a weak link A Web Factory A week is a long time in politics A Week of Kindness a week on a week on a week on A Weekend in the City a weight off mind A Wel Drem Prod A Well Regulated Militia A West Side Fabrication A wet blanket A wet blanket a wet dream a whack at something a whale of a a whale of a a whale of a a whale of a a whale of a [bill etc.] a whale of a [job etc.] a whale of an a whale of an a whale of an A wheel within a wheel A While Back a whip-round a whipping boy A Whisper to a Scream a whistle-stop tour a white elephant a white knight a white lie A whited sepulcher A Whiter Shade of Pale a whizz-kid A Whole Bunch of Acronyms a whole lot more a whole new ball game a wide berth a wide berth a wide berth a wide berth a wide boy a wild card A wild goose chase a wild-goose chase A Wilhelm Scream A Window Between Worlds a wise guy a wise head on young shoulders a wise-ass A Wish For Marilynne a wish list a witch-hunt

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