human shield

American  

noun

1. a person or group of people located or intentionally placed in a potential line of fire or in an area likely to be attacked.

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Etymology

Origin of human shield

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Celebrities had flown to Alabama to form a human shield around the marchers, the idea being that surely no one would take a shot at Belafonte.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2023

Greg, on the other hand, is a tool – frequently a whipping boy, sometimes a human shield, lately a corporate guillotine.

From Salon • May 15, 2023

And some analysts think that in sacrificing him, Ms. Truss might have removed her human shield, making her a bigger target for her opponents.

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2022

When Roger Angell was in his 80s, I was proud to be his human shield in a spitball assault in which Roger pummeled a pompous pundit with paper wads in a Yankee Stadium press box.

From Washington Post • May 22, 2022

Kyle, Akimi, and Sierra formed a human shield to hide their Bibliomania box.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein