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
1
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."
"And now it's quite obvious that instead of Mr Rumsfeld and Mr. Cheney listening attentively to Mr Blair's sage advice, they've simply been using him as a patsy—a convenient fig-leaf."
— Terry Jones, Poor Tony Blair wakes up (2003)
How to use Patsy
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- patsies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Related words
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.
