sacrificial lamb
The phrase 'sacrificial lamb' originates from religious practices but is commonly used metaphorically in modern contexts to describe someone or something sacrificed for the benefit of others.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic, figurative)A person or thing sacrificed for the benefit of others or to achieve a greater goal.
Example
- In the corporate scandal, the junior executive was made the sacrificial lamb to protect the higher-ups.
B2General
(idiomatic, figurative)Someone unfairly blamed or punished to deflect criticism from others.
Example
- The coach became the sacrificial lamb after the team’s poor performance, despite not being responsible for the failures.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "sacrificial lamb":
sacrificial poethuman sacrificeewe lambhouse lambspring lambburnt offering