punching bag
Americannoun
-
an inflated or stuffed bag, usually suspended, punched with the fists as an exercise.
-
Informal. a person serving as an object of abuse; scapegoat.
I told him that I wasn't going to be a punching bag for anyone.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of punching bag
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The punching bag for senators opposed to prediction markets was former U.S. representative Patrick McHenry, a senior advisor to a prediction market lobbying organization funded by firms like Kalshi.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
A slow start to these playoffs and last year’s postseason struggles made Reaves an online punching bag for fan frustrations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
It felt as if a boxer had used my bladder as a punching bag.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026
A punching bag painted by Basquiat features his signature crown motif atop the words “Mary Boone™.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
The punching bag stings my hands and feet, turning my skin red, and barely moves no matter how hard I hit it.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
