straw boss—a helper for a boss; an assistant foreman:
- I was a straw boss. I worked at it a while but I never cared for it. I did not have any power to hire or fire.
straw man —(also: man of straw)
1. a respectable man who serves as a cover for a questionable enterprise (also: front man):
- I suggest that you keep talking with people who were involved, rather than trying to use me as a straw man.
2. a made-up version of an opponent’s argument that can easily be defeated:
- His speech wasn’t really convincing because he attacked a straw man rather than addressing the real issues.