2
The person who is told off is "the whipping boy".
A:"Did you tell the boss off?"
B:"No, but John was with the boss when the boss made the mistake, so I told John off when he was with the boss."
A:"Ah! So you used John as the boss's whipping boy."
B:"Exactly - I think the boss got the message."
OED:
whipping-...
1
to stuff, verb 2. a. To place forcefully into a container or space; thrust:
"He stuffed money into the bag."
Expedient: (noun)
2. Something contrived or used to meet an urgent need:
"She joined the university football team by the simple expedient of standing on the field and refusing to move off."
1
hidden agenda : an ulterior motive m-w
I think the headword and its definition here could both work in your example, in fact:
ulterior motive: a secret reason m-w
1
How is the wh-word that questions manner, means, and adjective or adverb degree in direct wh-questions, with subject-auxiliary inversion (and do-support where necessary)
How did he get through the barbed wire?
How does she manage to keep so trim?
How long is that pole?
How rapidly should I breathe?
and in embedded wh-questions, with no inversion (and ...
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