lightning rod

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noun

a rodlike conductor installed to divert lightning away from a structure by providing a direct path to the ground.

a person or thing that attracts and absorbs powerful and especially negative or hostile feelings, opinions, etc., thereby diverting such feelings from other targets: The unpopular supervisor served as a lightning rod for the criticism that should have been aimed at management.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of lightning rod

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Words nearby lightning rod

lightning arrester, lightning bug, lightning chess, lightning conductor, Lightning never strikes twice in the same place, lightning rod, lightning stroke, light-o'-love, light on, light opera, light out

How to use lightning rod in a sentence

Controversy followed Reed, often a golf lightning rod nicknamed “Captain America,” after Team USA lost to Europe at Le Golf National in France.
Patrick Reed hospitalized, putting FedEx Cup playoffs and Ryder Cup in doubt|Cindy Boren|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
Ricardo Salles, the Brazilian environment minister who became a lightning rod for anger over deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, resigned Wednesday after allegations he obstructed a federal investigation into illegal logging.
Brazil's Controversial Environment Minister Has Quit. What Does It Mean for the Amazon?|Ciara Nugent|June 24, 2021|Time
The board refused to accept its role as the company’s lightning rod by kicking the decision back to Facebook.
Facebook’s oversight board blew up in its face|Nicolás Rivero|May 6, 2021|Quartz
The bill has become a lightning rod for Republican opposition, spurring claims that it is a partisan attempt to rewrite federal election laws in Democrats’ favor.
House Democrats pass sweeping elections bill as GOP legislatures push to restrict voting|Mike DeBonis|March 4, 2021|Washington Post

I don't know why he's singled out, but every time he just ends up being the lightning rod for my brothers' dirty jokes and my dad and uncle's drunken nicknames.
Carolyn Hax: Poking fun at her husband is, in fact, no fun|Carolyn Hax|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
Second, Michelle served as a lightning rod in the sense of drawing attacks away from other reform groups.
A Letter of Thanks to Michelle Rhee|Dmitri Mehlhorn|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the top of the obelisk is a 100-ounce aluminum cap, which acts as a lightning rod.
Weird Washington Monument History|William O’Connor|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed Taubira, in particular, has been a lightning rod for opposition contempt.
New Phone-Tapping Scandal Plagues Sarkozy|Tracy McNicoll|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The show delivered on all the spark a lightning rod host like Dunham should give off.
Lena Dunham on 'SNL' Review: Very Funny, Very Dunham-y|Kevin Fallon|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1968, Ted Nugent was a lightning rod, a personification of transformational freedom.
The GOP’s Real Ted Nugent Problem|James Poulos|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There he paused a moment for breath, and then climbed up the lightning-rod, hand over hand, and gained the roof.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
Back along the wall he crawled, and, sliding down the lightning-rod, was once more on the roof of the old hotel.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
Only the clumsy old lightning-rod shrieking in its rusty fixtures when the wind blows.
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins
A friend of mine in a Southern city tells me of a red-headed woodpecker that drums upon a lightning-rod on his neighbor's house.
A Year in the Fields|John Burroughs
From this observation to the lightning rod was but a short step.
Benjamin Franklin; Self-Revealed, Volume II (of 2)|Wiliam Cabell Bruce

Scientific definitions for lightning rod

lightning rod

A grounded metal rod placed high on a structure to conduct electrical current from a lightning strike directly to the ground, preventing the currents from injuring people or animals or from damaging objects. Lightning rods usually have a sharp, pointed tip, since electric lines of force are more highly concentrated around pointed objects, in this case increasing the attractiveness of the rod compared with other nearby objects. See also Saint Elmo's fire.

lightning rod

Origin of lightning rod

Words nearby lightning rod

Words related to lightning rod

How to use lightning rod in a sentence

Scientific definitions for lightning rod