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

With Hector balanced on my hip, I position myself as a human shield near the door while simultaneously keeping my eye on Lenny’s nice lamp, ready to leap for it if necessary.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden