aunt sally

A child throws a stick at the aunt sally game at the fair.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A game: "aunt sally" refers to a traditional fairground game in which players throw sticks or balls at a wooden object (originally a woman's head with a pipe in her mouth) to knock it down.
   • A target of criticism: In figurative use, "aunt sally" means a person or thing that is set up as an easy target for criticism, mockery, or attack.

Usage Examples

• The game:
  • At the village fair, children enjoyed playing aunt sally by aiming sticks at the wooden figure. (A game of throwing sticks at a target.)
• Figurative meaning:
  • The politician became an aunt sally for the media's relentless attacks. (A person unfairly targeted for criticism.)
  • The proposal was used as an aunt sally to distract from real issues. (A convenient target for blame or ridicule.)

Advanced Usage

• "to make an aunt sally of someone": to set someone up as a target for criticism.
  • The committee made an aunt sally of the junior manager during the inquiry. (They unfairly blamed him.)
• "to knock down the aunt sally": to defeat or discredit a weak or easily attacked target.
  • In the debate, he easily knocked down the aunt sally presented by his opponent. (He refuted a weak argument.)

Variants and Related Words

• Aunt Sally (proper noun): The name of the game itself, often capitalized.
  • Aunt Sally is a popular game at British country fairs. (The specific game.)
• Sally (n): a sudden outburst or excursion; not directly related but shares the name.
  • The soldiers made a sally from the fort. (A military attack.)

Synonyms

• Target: a person or object aimed at.
• Scapegoat: a person blamed for the faults of others.
• Punching bag: someone who is frequently criticized or abused.

Phrasal Verbs

• Set up as an aunt sally: to deliberately make someone or something a target.
  • The manager set up the new policy as an aunt sally to test public reaction. (He used it as a test target.)
• Knock down the aunt sally: to defeat a weak opponent or argument.
  • She knocked down the aunt sally with ease in the court hearing. (She refuted a flimsy claim.)

Related Idioms

• A sitting duck: an easy target for attack or criticism.
  • Without security, the building was a sitting duck for vandals. (An easy target.)
• A whipping boy: a person who is punished for the mistakes of others.
  • The intern was the whipping boy for the team's failure. (A scapegoat.)