Street
patsy
What does patsy mean?
A patsy is someone framed or manipulated into taking the blame for a crime, or an easy dupe. It overlaps with 'fall guy.'
"They needed a patsy to hold the gun when the cops arrived."
Origin
American slang, early 20th century; origin uncertain, possibly from Italian 'pazzo' (fool) or the name Patsy.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'patsy' mean?
A patsy is a person who is framed or manipulated into taking the blame for a crime, or more generally an easy dupe.
Where does the word 'patsy' come from?
It is American slang from the early 20th century. The origin is uncertain, possibly from the Italian 'pazzo' (fool) or from the personal name Patsy.
Is a patsy the same as a fall guy?
They overlap closely. Both take the blame for others, though 'patsy' also stresses being a naive dupe, while 'fall guy' stresses the deliberate setup.
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