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Reader question: Please explain this sentence, “whipping boy” in particular: Public anger is targeted at the usual whipping boy, oil companies. My comments: In other words, whenever there is an energy crisis, or problem, big and small, people blame oil companies. If oil prices rise too much, too fast, for example, people say it’s because of greedy oil companies. If oil prices drop too slowly or not at all, as is sometimes the case here when international prices fall, people criticize oil companies for the same thing. These are just two examples. By being the whipping boy, oil companies draw public ire whenever something goes wrong, for whatever the reason. That’s the idea. That’s the idea of “whipping boy”, at any rate. Whipping boy, you see, is a term of English origin. Originally, the whipping boy refers to the companion of the prince, who is usually from a common family. I mean the prince’s companion is of common origin, of course. The prince is, well, royal. Anyways, this companion is the originally whipping boy, and literally so. While the whole idea of whipping youngsters for doing something wrong has long outlived its welcome and acceptance, we know for a fact that, in the old days, boys were actually punished with whips to keep them in line. If they did something wrong, they were taught a lesson by getting whipped. Ouch! | 
