Being a whipping boy means being blamed or punished for someone else's mistakes or faults. Synonyms for this term include scapegoat, fall guy, and sacrificial lamb. A scapegoat is a person who is blamed for the problems of others, often wrongly. A fall guy is someone who takes the blame for the actions of others, whether or not they were involved in them. A sacrificial lamb is similar but refers specifically to someone who is sacrificed for the benefit of others or as a symbol. All of these synonyms imply a sense of injustice and unfairness towards the person who is being blamed or punished.