lightning rod

Definitions

1. A metallic conductor that is attached to a high point of a building and leads to the ground to protect the building from damage by lightning.
2. A person or thing that is a target for negative reactions and distracts criticism from another target.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“"My special business is to travel⟳ the country for orders for lightning-rods. This is my specimen rod;" tapping his staff; "I have⟳ the best of references"-fumbling in his pockets. "In Criggan last⟳ month, I put⟳ up three-and-twenty rods on only five buildings."”

“Another factor was that when the two governments changed Stormont’s rules in 2006 they left the dual premiership as the “lightning rod for other difficulties”, said [Brendan] O’Leary.”

“Though hardly a novel claim⟳ nowadays[…] it made [Jean] Twenge a lightning rod in the research⟳ world, where some academics remain⟳ skeptical of the panic over smartphones.”

CEFR level