noun
1. an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds
• Syn: ↑scarecrow, ↑strawman, ↑bird-scarer, ↑scarer
• Hypernyms: ↑effigy, ↑image, ↑simulacrum
2. a person used as a cover for some questionable activity
• Syn: ↑front man, ↑front, ↑figurehead, ↑nominal head, ↑strawman
3. a weak or sham argument set up to be easily refuted
• Syn: ↑strawman
• Hypernyms: ↑specious argument
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noun* * *
1. a mass of straw formed to resemble a man, as for a doll or scarecrow.
2. a person whose importance or function is only nominal, as to cover another's activities; front.
3. a fabricated or conveniently weak or innocuous person, object, matter, etc., used as a seeming adversary or argument: The issue she railed about was no more than a straw man.
[1585-95]
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straw man noun
A man of straw (see under ↑man1)
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Main Entry: ↑straw
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someone or something that is criticized or attacked but is not really important, powerful, or bad
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straw man,
1. an imaginary opponent or opposing argument, put up in order to be defeated or refuted; man of straw.
2. a person put up as a surety in a fraudulent action: »
The usual procedure…is for straw men to set up the Corporation and then resign to turn it over to its directors (Wall Street Journal).
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n. a person compared to a straw image; a sham
■ a sham argument set up to be defeated
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noun, pl ⋯ men [count]
US : a weak or imaginary argument or opponent that is set up to be easily defeated — called also (chiefly Brit) man of straw
Useful english dictionary. 2012.