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 straw man straw man /strɔː mæn/

noun

  1. An effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds  ( bird-scarer , scarecrow , scarer , straw man , strawman )
    an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds
     The farmer put a scarecrow in the cornfield to scare off the birds
    The farmer put a scarecrow in the cornfield to scare off the birds
  2. A weak or sham argument set up to be easily refuted  ( straw man , strawman )
    a weak or sham argument set up to be easily refuted
  3. A person used as a cover for some questionable activity  ( figurehead , front man , nominal head , front , straw man , strawman )
    a person used as a cover for some questionable activity