Aunt Sally

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a person who is a ready target for criticism or focus for disputation.

Aunt Sally

/ ˈsælɪ /

noun

1. a figure of an old woman's head, typically with a clay pipe, used in fairgrounds and fêtes as a target for balls or other objects

2. any person who is a target for insults or criticism

3. something set up as a target for disagreement or attack

Word History and Origins

Origin of Aunt Sally¹

First recorded in 1860–65; so called from the figure used as a target at fairs