straw man
Say it: STRAW man /ˌstrɔː ˈman/ · noun
What “straw man” means
Twisting someone's argument into a weaker one, so it's easy to attack.
More precisely: A distorted, weaker version of someone's argument, set up because it's easier to knock down.
Example: “I said we should cut meetings, not ban talking — that's a straw man.”
When to use it
In arguments, when someone attacks a silly version of what you said instead of what you actually said.
Similar words
misrepresentation, distortion
Quick check
You say: “We should eat less sugar.” They reply: “So you want to ban birthday cake?” They just used…
a straw man or a fair point?
Show the answer
a straw man
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