Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
patsy
This term carries a strong connotation of vulnerability and exploitation, often implying a power imbalance where a clever manipulator targets someone naive or trusting. It is frequently used in the context of criminal conspiracies or corporate scandals to describe a sacrificial lamb who is framed to protect the actual perpetrators.
While similar to a scapegoat, a patsy is specifically characterized by their gullibility or the ease with which they were tricked into their position. A scapegoat might be blamed regardless of their intelligence, but a patsy is typically seen as a fool who walked right into the trap.
Meanings
Examples
They are looking for a patsy to take the fall for the embezzlement.
The mob boss needed a patsy to distract the police.
He realized too late that he was just a patsy for the corporate executives.
She was the perfect patsy because she had no one to defend her.
I cannot believe I was such a patsy for their lies.
The plan requires a patsy who is gullible enough to believe the story.