de sjaak

Dutch

Etymology

Probably from the given name Sjaak, but the development is unclear.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /də ˈʃaːk/
Rhymes: -aːk

Noun

de sjaak ? (uncountable)

(Netherlands, colloquial) the victim(s) (of a policy or decision)
De werknemers mogen niet de sjaak worden van de fusie.
The employees must not become the victims of the merger.

Usage notes

The term is only used as a predicative nominal; the definite article de is obligatory, but may be separated from the noun proper by an adjective (as in de grootste sjaak).

Synonyms

de dupe
de pineut (colloquial)
de sigaar (colloquial)