Guinea pig

Definitions

1. Any tailless rodent of the genus Cavia, which have short ears and superficially resemble large hamsters.
2. A domestic guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, often kept as a pet.
   especially
3. A living experimental subject.
   figuratively
4. A professional company director, without time or real qualifications for the duties.
   dated, slang
5. A midshipman in the East India service; (by extension) a low-skilled or non-proficient seaman.
   obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“He became a human guinea pig and was paid by the company.”

“[H]e spoke of the unwisdom of volunteering one's services as a guinea pig.”

“My dad told me about his days in the Navy: He'd agreed to be a guinea pig in exchange⟳ for a shorter enlistment. They kept him awake⟳ for a week straight.”

“A good seaman he is... none of your guinea-pigs.”

“I promise⟳ you, to me it was no slight penance to be exposed during the whole voyage to the half sneering, satirical looks of the mates and guinea-pigs.”

CEFR level