straw man

a man

made of straw.

fuck you.

"I saw a guy made of straw. He was a straw man."
"Holy mother fucking giant bags of shit, you savage cunt."

by Jombo March 25, 2013

straw man

A favorite opponent of philosophers, politicians, pseudo-intellectuals, real intellectuals, atheists, creationists, political activists, and conspiracy theorists, and a perennially useful one at that.

Said the creationist to the uninformed, using his favorite straw man, "Since randomly jamming your television set rarely fixes any problem, the blind process of evolution is therefore a scientific improbability."

by Killing Kittens November 14, 2005

straw man

A sucker who is roped into a scam unknowingly and often used as a scapegoat to deflect the attention of the authorities from the real crime.

In tonight's news, the pastor of a local church became a straw man in a check kiting scam.

by Yochana February 24, 2009

Lay down a straw man

Laying down a straw man is a project management technique where you throw out an idea for review/criticism knowing the idea is probably flawed. Kind of like the 3 little pigs straw house. Something made of straw is not likely to last.

I going to just lay down a straw man and we can go from there.

by jdoggit January 15, 2010

Straw Man

A term that nerds overuse in online debates because they think that it makes them sound intelligent. Very common to see nerds arguing within Youtube comments or on Twitter throw out this term every time they get into an online argument.

Nerd: That's a straw man logical fallacy! *Nerdy snort* You've just lost the debate!

by Dave11663265 May 13, 2022

Straw man

A person who entangles another persons statements in an argument and uses those words in a completely different manner than intended to attack the other person

I said it’s just been a stressful few days,, the straw man took that comment and said “see I’m at fault you said you’re under stress, stress is your problem and I’m causing it.

by wtf is wrong with people March 30, 2023

Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy

The error of accusing someone of constructing a Straw Man when they have actually provided a fair, accurate paraphrase or logical extrapolation of an opponent's position. This fallacy fallacy is a defensive maneuver used to dodge strong counter-arguments by claiming misrepresentation, often by insisting on an overly literal, hyper-narrow reading of one's own words to avoid their implied consequences.

Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy Example: Person A: "We should abolish the police." Person B: "So you believe in a state of anarchy with no public safety mechanism?" Person A shouts, "Straw man! I didn't say that!" But Person B's reply is a reasonable interrogation of the practical implication of the stated position. The accusation is itself fallacious—a Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026