noun

Patsy

PAT-see

Patsy (noun) means a person who is easily blamed, deceived, or taken advantage of by others. Example: “The gang needed a patsy to take the fall if the plan went wrong.”

noun

A person who is easily blamed, deceived, or taken advantage of by others.

"The gang needed a patsy to take the fall if the plan went wrong."

"He felt like a patsy after realizing his "friend" had used him the whole time."

How to use Patsy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone set up to take the blame, or an easy target for a scam.

Common pairings

made a patsy of him act like a patsy

Word forms

patsies plural

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The gang needed a _____ to take the fall if the plan went wrong.

Etymology

Likely from a clipped form of the names Patricia or Patrick, with the informal -sy ending.

Synonyms

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mark fool mug sucker gull chump fall guy soft touch

Related words

line chance attention sign mark spot target brand

Frequently asked questions

What does “Patsy” mean?

The word “Patsy” means a person who is easily blamed, deceived, or taken advantage of by others. In plain terms, someone set up to take the blame, or an easy target for a scam.

How do you pronounce “Patsy”?

“Patsy” is pronounced PAT-see (/ˈpætsi/ in IPA).

How do you use “Patsy” in a sentence?

Here is “Patsy” used in a sentence: “The gang needed a patsy to take the fall if the plan went wrong.”

What part of speech is “Patsy”?

“Patsy” is a noun.

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