straw man
noun phrase

- an argument, claim, or opponent that is invented in order to win or create an argument
- a person whose importance or function is only nominal, as to cover another's activities; a front, a front man
- a mass of straw formed to resemble a man, as for a doll or scarecrow

Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com

- A made-up version of an opponent's argument that can easily be defeated. To accuse people of attacking a straw man is to suggest that they are avoiding worthier opponents and more valid criticisms of their own position

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ORIGIN

1590s, "doll or scarecrow made of bound straw," from straw + man. Figuratively, in debates, by 1896. Man of straw "imaginary opponent" is recorded from 1620s.

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An example often given of a straw man is US President Richard Nixon's 1952 "Checkers speech."

When campaigning for vice president in 1952, Nixon was accused of having illegally taken $18,000 in campaign funds for his personal use. In a televised response, he spoke about another gift, a dog he had been given by a supporter:

"It was a little cocker spaniel dog, in a crate he had sent all the way from Texas, black and white, spotted, and our little girl Tricia, six years old, named it Checkers. And, you know, the kids, like all kids, loved the dog, and I just want to say this right now, that, regardless of what they say about it, we are going to keep it."

This was a straw man response; his critics had never criticized the dog as a gift or suggested he return it. This argument was successful at distracting many people from the funds and portraying his critics as nitpicking and heartless. Nixon received an outpouring of public support and remained on the ticket. He and Eisenhower were elected by a landslide.

Rottenberg, Annette T.; Donna Haisty Winchell (2011). The Structure of Argument. MacMillan

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RELATED WORDS

misconception, mistaken belief, misbelief, delusion, fallacy, false notion, mistaken impression, misapprehension, misjudgement, miscalculation, misinterpretation, misconstruction, error, mistake, untruth, inconsistency, illusion, myth, fantasy, deceit, deception, sophism; sophistry, casuistry, faulty reasoning, unsound argument

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Practice OWAD in a conversation today
say something like:

“His speech had emotional appeal, but it wasn't really convincing because he attacked a STRAW MAN rather than addressing the real issues.”