Patsies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who is easily deceived or manipulated, often used to refer to someone who is made to take the blame for others' actions; a target of exploitation who is not aware of being used; someone viewed as gullible or foolish, often serving as an unwitting accomplice in schemes or plots
2. An individual who falls victim to trickery, being led into a situation that brings them harm or ridicule, frequently used in contexts of betrayal; a person exploited for someone else's gain without realizing it; a naive participant in a deceptive plan, often held responsible for misdeeds
3. A naive or unsuspecting individual who is exploited or duped, often serving as a scapegoat for others’ failures or crimes; a person whose gullibility enables others to manipulate their actions or decisions; someone characterized by a lack of awareness regarding the true motives of those around them

Etymology: "Patsies" is the plural of "patsy," a noun for someone who is easily fooled or who gets blamed for things that are not their fault. The origin of "patsy" is uncertain, and the source offers three candidates. One ties it to Pat and Paddy, the stock names for the Irish, which fits a term first attested in the United States in the 1870s, close to the peak of Irish migration. Another proposes the Italian "pazzo" ("madman") or the southern Italian dialect word "paccio" ("fool"). A third points to Patsy Bolivar, a blameless scapegoat in an 1880s minstrel skit, who was later reused in Broadway musical comedies such as "The Errand Boy" (1904) and "Patsy in Politics" (1907).

Synonyms: dupes, suckers, fools, victims

Antonyms: manipulators, schemers, players