punching bag

noun

punch·​ing bag ˈpən-chiŋ- 

plural punching bags

1

: a stuffed or inflated bag (such as a heavy bag or speed bag) usually suspended for free movement and punched or kicked for exercise or for training (as in boxing or martial arts)

When Marciano worked out with a punching bag he saw his opponent before him …

—Joyce Carol Oates

… delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to the punching bag …

—Caleb Taylor

2

: one who is routinely subjected to criticism, blame, abuse, or defeat by another

The downside of management is that there are no thank you's. … You are subject to the whims and emotions of your artist twenty-four hours a day. You're the guy who becomes the punching bag when things don't go right.

—Tommy Motolla, quoted in Off the Record

Exactly what makes Big Business such a convenient punching bag depends on your ideological leanings.

—Catherine Rampell

Examples of punching bag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

True to his name, Rocky took up boxing at a young age, with Gellar proudly posting photos of him gloved-up at the punching bag in 2016. — Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023

Netflix has been a favourite punching bag for many in the French industry who blame declining box office on the rise of online viewing. — Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2022

This 205-pound heavyweight punching bag is a #1 best-seller on Amazon. — John Thompson, Men's Health, 14 Nov. 2022

Social media, often a punching bag here, took more hits this year. — Rob Pegoraro, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for punching bag

• bundestag
• saddlebag
• ag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• gag
• hag
• hagg
• lag
• mag