Imagine a pincushion, a soft object that is repeatedly poked and prodded with pins. This image reflects the experience of someone who is constantly being subjected to negative attention, whether it be verbal, emotional, or physical.
Here are some examples of how the idiom can be used:
* "The new manager has become a pincushion for everyone's complaints."
* "I feel like I'm a pincushion for my boss's bad moods."
* "The team's poor performance made the coach a pincushion for the media's criticism."
Essentially, "to be a pincushion" implies that someone is constantly being the recipient of negativity and experiencing a great deal of pressure or discomfort.