lightning rod

英 [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ rɒd]

美 [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ rɑːd]

n. 引火烧身的人(或事)

化学

牛津词典

noun

引火烧身的人（或事）
a person or thing that attracts criticism, especially if the criticism is then not directed at sb/sth else

柯林斯词典

同lightning conductor
Alightning rodis the same as alightning conductor.
PHRASE 招引…的人
If you say that someoneis a lightning rod forsomething, you mean that they attract that thing to themselves.
1. He is a lightning rod for controversy.
  他是个争议性人物。

英英释义

noun

a metallic conductor that is attached to a high point and leads to the ground
Synonym:lightning conductor
someone who is a frequent target of negative reactions and serves to distract attention from another

双语例句

But defenders of Mr Geithner, who remains the only official at the Treasury department to have been confirmed by the Senate, say that he is being unfairly singled out as the lightning rod for the growing public anger Wall Street's misuse of emergency taxpayer funds.
但盖特纳的支持者表示，他被不公平地单挑出来，作为公众对于华尔街滥用应急纳税人资金愈演愈烈的愤怒的矛头。盖特纳仍是财政部唯一得到参议院认可的官员。
Discussion about Several Technical Questions of Lightning Rod in Lightning Protection Design and Construction
避雷针在防雷设计和施工中若干技术问题浅谈
The museum's torquing tower soars above the trees and proves a lightning rod for critics.
博物馆的旋转塔于树林当中高耸屹立，招来一片强烈批评。
The Occupy Wall Street movement has been a lightning rod for Americans who feel angry about the status quo.
占领华尔街（OccupyWallStreet）运动已成为对现状感到愤怒的美国人的泄愤渠道。
But with many Europeans saying the EU has expanded too far, too fast, the trial of Tymoshenko is now a lightning rod for opponents of further eastward expansion.
这将是乌克兰加入欧盟的第一步。但是欧洲许多人士说，欧盟扩展得太远太快。对季莫申科的审判为那些反对欧盟向东扩展的人士提供了避雷针。
Sheikh Hamad is a lightning rod for criticism from vested interests threatened by reforms the government is introducing as its increasing exposure turns the glare of international scrutiny on to its inner workings.
谢赫哈马德招致了既得利益集团的批评。由于卡塔尔日益暴露在外界面前，将国际社会的审视目光引向其内部运作，卡塔尔政府正出台改革措施，而这些改革威胁到了那些既得利益。
Ms Fiorina courted a public profile that made her the embodiment of the company she headed but also a lightning rod for the anger of shareholders and employees when things went wrong.
菲奥莉娜竭力争取公众形象，让自己成为公司的化身，同时在出现错误时抵挡股东和员工的愤怒情绪。
The exposure and his marriage to Victoria Adams, also known as the pop star Posh Spice, turned him into a lightning rod for criticism of whether he was more interested in fame than sport.
媒体上的频繁露面以及与维多利亚•亚当斯（VictoriaAdams，也即流行明星辣妹）的婚姻让他成为了批评的焦点，人们认为他对名利的兴趣超过了对体育的兴趣。
Then tell me how complicated can a lightning rod be? I am curious to find out?
你可以告诉我避雷针的设计是多么的复杂吧？我是很好奇的，想找到方法？
He is a lightning rod for controversy.
他是个争议性人物。