Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A boy formerly educated with a prince and punished in his stead.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word whipping-boy.
Examples
-
I mean anyone other than IDers would prefer just about anyone other than Richard Dawkins (a favorite whipping-boy around here).
The Weasel Thread 2009
-
Unions are nothing more than a convenient Republican whipping-boy that like to make noise.
Incoming AFL-CIO pres again draws the line on a public option 2009
-
A painter whose style had conquered Europe became, at best, an artistic whipping-boy.
The Misery Memoirist James Hall 2011
-
Unfortunately, New Criticism has apparently come to be seen as an all-purpose kind of apologia for complexity of all kinds, a convenient whipping-boy in circumstances in which "complexity" is seen by some as an excuse for evading obvious moral distinctions.
-
And when he is joined by Russell Barr as a Boswell who is a mixture of close companion, whipping-boy and assiduous note-taker, you feel you are eavesdropping on one of the great double-acts in literary history.
-
Unfortunately, New Criticism has apparently come to be seen as an all-purpose kind of apologia for complexity of all kinds, a convenient whipping-boy in circumstances in which "complexity" is seen by some as an excuse for evading obvious moral distinctions.
Canonical Writers 2008
-
It might seem contradictory for Milton Babbitt, the poster - and/or whipping-boy for a style of music often perceived as nothing more than mathematical permutation, to be chastising Jerome Kern's lyricists for being too stylized.
Archive 2008-06-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2008
-
It might seem contradictory for Milton Babbitt, the poster - and/or whipping-boy for a style of music often perceived as nothing more than mathematical permutation, to be chastising Jerome Kern's lyricists for being too stylized.
The Hills of Tomorrow Matthew Guerrieri 2008
-
The unusual disclosure in a 12-page section of "risk factors" ranging from rocky financial markets to natural disasters is the latest sign of Goldman's whipping-boy status among rivals, lawmakers and angry Americans because of the firm's giant profits.
Goldman Lists New 'Risk': Bad Press Joe Bel Bruno 2010
-
The unusual disclosure in a 12-page section of "risk factors" ranging from rocky financial markets to natural disasters is the latest sign of Goldman's whipping-boy status among rivals, lawmakers and angry Americans because of the firm's giant profits.
Goldman Lists New 'Risk': Bad Press Joe Bel Bruno 2010
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.