Man of straw

Man of straw
Straw Straw, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. stre['a]w, from the root of E. strew; akin to OFries. str[=e], D. stroo, G. stroh, OHG. str[=o], Icel. str[=a], Dan. straa, Sw. str[*a]. [root]166. See {Strew}.] 1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease. [1913 Webster]

2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw. [1913 Webster]

3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere trifle. [1913 Webster]

I set not a straw by thy dreamings. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Note: Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like. [1913 Webster]

{Man of straw}, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an irresponsible person; a puppet. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Man of straw — Man Man (m[a^]n), n.; pl. {Men} (m[e^]n). [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. ma[eth]r, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. man to think, and E. mind. [root]104. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • man of straw — ► man of straw (also straw man) 1) a person who is a sham. 2) a person undertaking a financial commitment without adequate means. Main Entry: ↑man …   English terms dictionary

  • man of straw — A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is a man of straw …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • man of straw — man′ of straw′ n. straw man • Etymology: 1615–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • man of straw — 1. : an imaginary argument of no substance advanced in order to be easily confuted or an imaginary adversary advancing such an argument seems to be looking for a man of straw to belabor Journal of Forestry 2. : a person usually without means or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • man of straw —    A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is a man of straw.    A man of straw is a a weak person or argument that is easily defeated.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • man of straw — noun a) A weak person. When push came to shove he gave in almost immediately, showing that he was a man of straw after all. b) A tactic used in debates and arguments where a weaker thesis is substituted for the opponents real proposition, this… …   Wiktionary

  • Man of straw —   A weak person that can easily be beaten of changed is a man of straw …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • man of straw (also straw man) — 1》 a person who is a sham. 2》 a person undertaking a financial commitment without adequate means. → man …   English new terms dictionary

  • man of straw man — ► man of straw (also straw man) 1) a person who is a sham. 2) a person undertaking a financial commitment without adequate means. Main Entry: ↑man …   English terms dictionary

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