In political jargon, a useful idiot is a term currently used to reference a person perceived as propagandizing for a cause—particularly a bad cause originating from a devious, ruthless source—without fully comprehending the cause's goals, and who is cynically being used by the cause's leaders. The term was used during the Cold War to describe non-communists regarded as susceptible to communist propaganda and manipulation. Conversely, it was then, and is used now to describe someone unwittingly doing the bidding of the CIA or US government.
False Attribution to Lenin:
The phrase useful idiot has often been attributed to Vladimir Lenin, but he is not documented as ever having used the phrase. In a 1987 article for The New York Times, American journalist William Safire investigated the origin of the term, commenting that a senior reference librarian at the Library of Congress had been unable to find the phrase in Lenin's works and concluding that in the absence of new evidence, the term could not be attributed to Lenin. Similarly, the Oxford English Dictionary in defining useful idiot says: "The phrase does not seem to reflect any expression used within the Soviet Union".
False Attribution to Lenin:
The phrase useful idiot has often been attributed to Vladimir Lenin, but he is not documented as ever having used the phrase. In a 1987 article for The New York Times, American journalist William Safire investigated the origin of the term, commenting that a senior reference librarian at the Library of Congress had been unable to find the phrase in Lenin's works and concluding that in the absence of new evidence, the term could not be attributed to Lenin. Similarly, the Oxford English Dictionary in defining useful idiot says: "The phrase does not seem to reflect any expression used within the Soviet Union".
"Leftists" who do not believe in international solidarity, or promote elitism, are useful idiots for the CIA.
That guy is either a useful idiot or a spook, because he is sowing dissension in our ranks.
That guy is either a useful idiot or a spook, because he is sowing dissension in our ranks.
by Odz March 3, 2023
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War 2 to define the Nazi sympathizers. Now often used to describe the “
Woke “ generation who have no idea what they are talking about but are pro terrorist anyway.
War 2 to define the Nazi sympathizers. Now often used to describe the “
Woke “ generation who have no idea what they are talking about but are pro terrorist anyway.
by Anti- terrorism January 31, 2024
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Of very negligible (or totally non existent) usefulness to you or your reality. Beyond f*ing useless.
Face diapers? Negligibly useful. So are Johnny Depp's and Amber Heard's personal dirty laundry being hung out to dry on TV.
by Sexydimma April 25, 2022
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Get the As useful as the average politician mug.Murder Drones is an Australian adult independent-animated web series created, written, and directed by Liam Vickers and produced by Glitch Productions.
by anonymous June 14, 2025
Get the Actually useful definition of the term "Murder Drones" mug.Similar to bleach-paint the ghetto but actually putting people back to school and work, maybe on their own free will.
When you are told or forced to bleach-paint the ghetto you may not be happy since the gov't forced you to do it, but once you do something useful, on your own free will, you will be happy.
by Sexydimma January 9, 2022
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