AUNT SALLY Meaning and
Definition
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Aunt Sally is a term primarily used in British English, referring to a traditional pub game popular in England. It is typically played during fairs and village festivities. The game involves throwing sticks or balls at a wooden target called Aunt Sally or Sally, which is usually fixed atop a pole. The objective of the game is to knock off the wooden effigy, also known as Aunt Sally, from her perch using the thrown objects.
The Aunt Sally target is traditionally crafted to resemble an elderly woman's head. It often features a painted face with exaggerated features and a hat. The effigy is mounted on a swivel, allowing it to rotate and present different sides as the game progresses. Participants take turns throwing objects, typically with sticks or balls, at the target, aiming to strike Aunt Sally's head or knock her off the pole.
Aunt Sally is often considered a game of skill and accuracy, requiring participants to possess precision in their throwing technique. The game is commonly played outdoors, and its roots trace back to traditional English forms of entertainment.
Today, the term Aunt Sally can also be used metaphorically to describe a person or thing that is deliberately set up as an easy target for criticism or mockery. In this context, referring to someone or something as an "aunt sally" implies that they are being used as a scapegoat or a convenient object of ridicule.
Common Misspellings for AUNT SALLY
- aunt sallys
- zunt sally
- sunt sally
- wunt sally
- qunt sally
- aynt sally
- ahnt sally
- ajnt sally
- aint sally
- a8nt sally
- a7nt sally
- aubt sally
- aumt sally
- aujt sally
- auht sally
- aunr sally
- aunf sally
- aung sally
- auny sally
- aun6 sally
Etymology of AUNT SALLY
The etymology of the term "Aunt Sally" is uncertain, and there are a few possible explanations.
One theory suggests that the term originated from the fairground game called Aunt Sally, which was popular in England in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In this game, players would throw sticks or balls at a model of an old woman's head, known as "Aunt Sally", in an attempt to knock it off.
Another theory suggests that the term may have derived from a traditional English pub game called "knocking down Aunt Sally". In this game, players would throw sticks or balls at a wooden post, often bearing a carved figure of a woman, which they would try to knock down.
Yet another theory proposes that the term "Aunt Sally" may have originated from an older phrase "cue", which referred to one who is easily deceived or made fun of.
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