straw man

noun

a mass of straw formed to resemble a man, as for a doll or scarecrow.

a person whose importance or function is only nominal, as to cover another's activities; front.

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.

Origin:
1585–95

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

straw man

—n
1.	a figure of a man made from straw
2.	another term for man of straw

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10

Straw man is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

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American Heritage

Cultural Dictionary

straw man definition

A made-up version of an opponent's argument that can easily be defeated. To accuse people of attacking a straw man is to suggest that they are avoiding worthier opponents and more valid criticisms of their own position: “His speech had emotional appeal, but it wasn't really convincing because he attacked a straw man rather than addressing the real issues.”

Matching Quote

"Not to die on the straw at home,
Those hands to close these eyes,
That is all I ask, my dear,
From the old man in the skies."
Day-break and a candle end"

-William Butler Yeats

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