Aunt Sally


noun Chiefly British.

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

Origin of Aunt Sally

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

British Dictionary definitions for aunt sally

Aunt Sally
/ (ˈsælɪ) /

noun plural -lies British

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
any person who is a target for insults or criticism
something set up as a target for disagreement or attack