lightning rod
noun🔊/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ rɒd/
🔊/ˈlaɪtnɪŋ rɑːd/
(especially North American English) (British English usually lightning conductor)
a long straight piece of metal or wire leading from the highest part of a building to the ground, put there to prevent lightning damaging the building 避雷针 a person or thing that attracts criticism, especially if the criticism is then not directed at somebody/something else 引火烧身的人（或事）