boogieman
/ˈbʊɡiˌmæn/
noun
- An imaginary evil creature used to frighten children, especially one that hides in dark places.
- My little brother thinks there's a boogieman under his bed.
- The old house was said to be haunted by a boogieman.
- Parents sometimes invent a boogieman to get kids to behave.
- A person or thing that is widely feared or blamed, often unfairly.
- For many people, the idea of failure becomes a personal boogieman.
- The media sometimes turns a minor issue into a boogieman for the public.
- In political debates, each side often treats the other as a boogieman.