man of straw
The term "man of straw" has diverse meanings, ranging from describing a weak individual to a deceptive tactic in debates.
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🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1General
(informal, British English)A person who lacks strength, substance, or character.
Example
- He was dismissed as a man of straw, incapable of leading the team.
- In the face of adversity, he revealed himself to be a man of straw.
C1Business
(informal, American English)A person used as a cover or front for a dubious enterprise.
Example
- The man of straw signed the documents, while the real owners remained hidden.
- They used a man of straw to avoid detection by the authorities.
B2Debate
(technical, academic)An argument or opponent that is intentionally misrepresented to be easily defeated.
Example
- He set up a man of straw to distract from the main issue.
- The debate was filled with man of straw arguments, leading to a misleading conclusion.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "man of straw":