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
Heledd	HEL-edh	Welsh
Algar
Fiorenza	fyo-REN-tsah	Italian
Roselle	-	French (Rare)
Arabella	[.ærə'belə]
Albertus	ahl-BER-tus (Dutch)	Ancient Germanic (Latinized), Dutch