a lightning rod

(American)

someone or something that takes all the blame for a situation, although other people or things are responsible too (often + for ) In a harsh economic climate, raises for teachers have become a lightning rod for criticism.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Govannon	-	Welsh Mythology
NergÜI	-	Mongolian
Ballin	['bælin]
Iudith	-	Biblical Latin
Poncio	PON-thyo (Spanish), PON-syo (Latin American Spanish)	Spanish
Hephaistos	-	Greek Mythology