In business, something (an idea, or plan, usually) set up to be knocked down. It's the dangerous philosophy of presenting one mediocre idea, so that the listener will make the choice of the better idea which follows.
It backfires with some frequency, as the listener (out of sheer perversity) will insist on the straw dog.
by Arunabh Das April 22, 2004
by Vulc4n January 02, 2006
a straw dog is a scapegoat group, place, person or idea in which we dump our evilness, so we can blame it and then by attacking, dissing or destorying it, we externalize it outside of us so we feel free of sin.
America often uses an 'out group' as a straw dog, such as Communists, terrorists, labor unions, gays, in order to deflect attention from the bad things we're doing, such as exploiting the environment or third world labor.
by John Darling March 19, 2006
Chet, the captain of the football team in High school, is now an overweight drunk who sells shoes. He is a straw dog.
by Chetfaker April 13, 2014
by strawdog16 November 01, 2011
(n.) Person who is faithful to the process of snorting cocaine. Someone who uses the inhalation of cocaine as the sole purpose of getting high.
With the packet in my pocket, the good stuff, I could only think of her, sitting at home anxiously awaiting my arival like a real straw dog.
by William Bouchie August 30, 2011
a word that you interject anytime that you don't know what word to use, but want to make it sound like you're smart.
I listened to that speech on nuclear physics, but the guys whole theory seemed like a straw dog compared to other theorys.
by bread infection January 02, 2006