noun
patsy
PAT-see/ˈpætsi/
A person easily deceived or exploited.
The patsy offers another coin while the operator hides the ball.
Etymology
Patsy Bolivar was a comic character routinely blamed for other people's pranks. His name became a label for someone made to take the blame or used as an easy victim.
In context
So, we needed a patsy, someone we could lie to and trick into thinking they were part of our alliance.
More examples
- The scammers look for patsies who believe their promises.
- Don't be a patsy and sign without reading the contract.
- The manager makes the new employee a patsy for his own mistakes.
Forms
patsy · patsies
Similar words
- dupe
- Emphasizes someone deceived into believing or doing something.
- sucker
- Informally emphasizes gullibility, especially when someone loses money.
- scapegoat
- Specifically means someone unfairly blamed, whether gullible or not.