08-Jun-2003, 20:32
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 Re: whipping boy
Quote: |
Originally Posted by dduck Quote: |
Originally Posted by RonBee A whipping boy is somebody people enjoy beating up on (verbally, at least). It's a scapegoat. | The expression "whipping boy" comes from the class system used in England, a few centuries ago. When a child of the privileged class committed an offence, punishable by a whipping, the elite classes decided that it "wouldn't be cricket" i.e. it was unacceptable to inflict physical punishment on a "high-ranking" child. To solve this dilemma, they rolled in a substitute child, of lower stock, who would receive the punishment in the stead of the original offender. I believe the "superbrat" was forced to watch the "whipping boy" receive the beating, as punishment.
Iain | That is an interesting explanation. It is, I believe, exactly right.
:D
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