WHIPPING BOY


Meaning of WHIPPING BOY in English

noun

a person who is often blamed or punished for things other people have done

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WORD ORIGIN

extended use of the original term (mid 17th cent.) denoting a boy educated with a young prince or other royal person and punished instead of him.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.