punching bag
5
4.2
- noun
- /ˈpʌnʧɪŋ bæɡ/
- Informal
:
chivo expiatorio
- People keep thinking I'm a punching bag.
- become a punching bag
So at one point we're a punching bag for politicians.
- So at one point we're a punching bag for politicians.
- So I just teach my kids like don't be nobody's punching bag.
- The big question becomes how do you balance empathy against being a punching bag?
- Cassian apparently went back to his favorite role of Reese And's punching bag.
- Part of their job is to be a verbal punching bag because this person has to do it.
- And you know, I'm a punching bag.
- Even if you're just a human dummy and punching bag for five years, go do it.
- You don't have to be a punching bag, but at least now I'm helping my kids see that he is having a feeling under these words.
Examples
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People keep thinking I'm a punching bag.
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It isn't good for you to turn another person into a punching bag, no matter how angry you are at them.
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But I am not your punching bag.
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Then they realize I'm not a punching bag at all.
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I know I'm more than somebody's punching bag.
Blog text (24) -
And you need to stop treating me like a punching bag and start treating… and start treating me as a partner.
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It isn't good for you to turn another person into a punching bag, no matter how angry you are at them.
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I won't be your punching bag anymore.
Synonyms
6
5.0
A person others blame or hurt repeatedly
How Targeted
Surface Forms
Morphology
The metaphorical sense maps directly from the literal object (a bag you punch) to a person who receives blows—i.e., criticism or abuse—so the relation to the constituent meanings is clearly inferable. However, the shift from a physical training object to a human target of verbal/emotional attacks is a metaphorical extension that may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so partial transparency is appropriate.
Etymology
Punching bag is also used to compare a person to the heavy bag that people punch, since the bag takes the hits and cannot fight back. So when someone is called a punching bag, they are the 'target of anger' or unfair blame from others.