whipping post

• Poteau en bois auquel on attachait les condamnés pour une flagellation publique en guise de châtiment. Le terme est vieilli et rarement utilisé dans un contexte moderne.

A historical wooden post or pillar to which offenders were tied to be publicly whipped as a form of punishment. The term is now archaic and rarely used in modern contexts.

1. Historical punishment deviceC1formal

   A wooden post to which people were tied to be whipped as a form of public punishment.

   poteau de flagellation

   • In colonial times, criminals were often tied to the whipping post.
   • The whipping post stood in the town square as a deterrent.
   • Historical reenactments sometimes include a whipping post.

2. Figurative: target of criticismC2informal

   A person or thing that is frequently blamed or criticized.

   tête de Turc

   • The CEO became the whipping post for the company's failures.
   • In the media, the politician was used as a whipping post for unpopular policies.
   • The team's poor performance made the coach a whipping post for fans.