lightning rod

Alternative forms edit

• lightning-rod

Noun edit

lightning rod (plural lightning rods)

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.
   • 1856, Herman Melville, The Lightning Rod Man:

     "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."

2. (figuratively) A person or thing that is a target for negative reactions and distracts criticism from another target.
   • 2023 October 13, Rory Carroll, “‘The hope we had is gone’: how 20 months of stasis has paralysed Northern Ireland”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     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 O’Leary.

Synonyms edit

• lightning conductor (British)

Translations edit

Further reading edit

• lightning rod on Wikipedia.Wikipedia