straw man

straw man definitions

• To falsely attribute an insubstantial argument (a straw man argument) to another through direct declaration or indirect implication; to put words in someone's mouth. 

• A doll or scarecrow, particularly one stuffed with straw. 

• An innocuous person or someone of nominal or lesser importance, as a front man or straw boss. 

• An insubstantial concept, idea, endeavor or argument, particularly one deliberately set up to be weakly supported, e.g. by misrepresenting an opponent's argument by broadening or narrowing the scope of a premise, so that it can be easily knocked down; especially to impugn the strength of any related or contrasted thing or idea. 

• An outline serving as an initial proposal for a project, usually refined iteratively. 

• Synonym of straw buyer