patsy
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of; a scapegoat or dupe: A "patsy" is someone who is easily fooled, cheated, or blamed for something, often because they are naive or trusting.
Usage
- The word "patsy" is used to describe a person who is a victim of deception or a setup. It often implies that the person is an unwitting participant who bears the blame or suffers the consequences for others.
- It is typically used in informal contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- He was just the patsy in the scheme; the real criminals got away.
- Don't be a patsy and believe everything they tell you.
- The con artists were looking for a patsy to swindle.
Advanced Usage
- "to be/fall a patsy for something": to be easily deceived by a particular trick or scheme.
- He's a patsy for any get-rich-quick scheme.
- "to set someone up as a patsy": to arrange for an innocent person to take the blame.
- The gang set him up as the patsy for the robbery.
Variants and Related Words
- Fall guy (n): a person who is blamed or punished for the mistakes or crimes of others. (Very close synonym to "patsy").
- Scapegoat (n): a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.
- Dupe (n): a person who is easily deceived or fooled.
- Sucker (n, informal): a person who is easily fooled or deceived.
Synonyms
- Dupe
- Sucker
- Pushover
- Fool
- Scapegoat
- Fall guy
- Mark (slang)
Related Phrases
- Take someone for a patsy: to deceive or cheat someone easily.
- They took the tourist for a patsy and sold him fake tickets.
- Patsy in a frame-up: the innocent person who is framed for a crime.
- The evidence was planted to make him look like the patsy in the frame-up.
Related Idioms
- Be left holding the bag: to be left with the blame or responsibility for something, often because others have avoided it. (This shares the concept of being the one who unfairly takes the blame, similar to a patsy).
- After the plan failed, I was left holding the bag.
Noun
-
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
