straw-man
/ˈstrɔː.mæn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
An idea, argument, or opponent made to look weaker than it really is, so it is easier to attack. In discussion, people use it to misrepresent another side's real point.
- That's a straw-man argument.
- She rejected the straw-man in his speech.
- Don't argue against a straw-man version of my idea.
Adinary Nuance
A straw-man is not just a weak argument. It is a distorted version of someone else's view, made to be easier to defeat. It differs from a counterargument, which answers the real point, and from a false claim, which is simply untrue.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ngụy biện người rơm
- Spanish
- hombre de paja
- Chinese
- 稻草人
- Japanese
- 藁人形
- Korean
- 허수아비
Etymology
The phrase comes from the old image of a man made of straw, meaning something fake or without real substance. It appeared in English in the 16th century.
Common phrases
a straw-man argumentbuild a straw-manattack a straw-man
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is straw-man formal or informal?
- It is common in academic, legal, and business writing. It is also used in careful discussion.
- What is the difference between straw-man and weak argument?
- A weak argument is simply poor. A straw-man is a distorted version of someone else's real argument.
- How do I use straw-man in a sentence?
- Use it before words like argument, version, or fallacy: "That's a straw-man argument."
- Is straw-man used in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially in Task 2 when discussing arguments and opinions.