lightning rod

Noun

Meaning

a metallic conductor that is attached to a high point and leads to the ground; protects the building from destruction by lightning

someone who is a frequent target of negative reactions and serves to distract attention from another

Source: WordNet

Alternative names

lightning-rod

Synonyms

lightning conductor dodger aegis ground player producer conductor device presence copyright buffer generator whip butt entrepreneur

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Antonyms

hangman carper stalker knocker attacker perpetrator

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Hypernyms

individual person conductor soul mortal somebody

Examples

I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph. Ken Kesey

I seem to be some sort of lightning rod. I just really irritate people, you know? I really do. Howard Stern

The best lightning rod for your protection is your own spine. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph. Tom Wolfe

I think they just thought she would be a good kind of lightning rod. We did one or two rehearsals, and I know for a fact that people liked her legs. Rachel Marsden

In many ways, I think I served as a lightning rod. Nancy Reagan

Close letter words and terms

lightning protector lightning response protection lightning rock lightning rod arrester lightning round lightning sparkover