patsy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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As Warren Buffett wrote, “If you’ve been playing poker for half an hour and you still don’t know who the patsy is, you’re the patsy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
Three days later, he recanted that confession and spent the rest of his life professing his innocence, claiming that he was made a patsy for the real assassin, a man he called “Raoul.”
From Slate ● Dec. 1, 2025
Again, the easiest marks are the ones who don't realize they're being set up as a patsy.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2023
Games like this are designed to inspire dreams, the destruction of a nonconference patsy generating optimism for what’s ahead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2022
Regibald du Burgh announced, “I accept the challenge of the once-archivist Werfel, traitor to his own people, elf-friend, patsy for the enemy.”
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
As Rhodes found out, however, it's not so easy to pawn your misdeeds off on patsies.
From Salon ● Dec. 12, 2022
At times, the prosecution team has suggested that reporters can be patsies in that strategy.
From Washington Post ● May 21, 2022
England entertain Ireland in round four before heading for Paris on the final weekend, possibly as the patsies for a crowd expecting the first Grand Slam since 2010.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2022
“We all know life’s just a joke,” he squawks, “but those patsies think it has meaning! They’ll never get the gag, not even when they’re hit by the punch line. Lay it on! Bigly!”
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 18, 2019
"But that assumption—a whole continent of patsies —simply didn't make sense."
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Vocabulary lists containing patsy
