straw man

• Erreur logique ou procédé rhétorique consistant à déformer ou exagérer l'argument d'un adversaire pour le rendre plus facile à attaquer ou à réfuter.

A logical fallacy or rhetorical tactic where someone misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack or refute.

1. Logical fallacyC1formal

   A rhetorical technique where an opponent's argument is misrepresented or exaggerated to make it easier to attack.

   homme de paille

   • In the debate, he used a straw man by claiming his opponent wanted to abolish all laws.
   • The politician created a straw man of the opposition's policy to discredit it.
   • Avoid using a straw man in your argument; it weakens your position.

2. Weak or false argumentB2informal

   An argument that is deliberately set up to be easily refuted, often by distorting the original point.

   homme de paille

   • His criticism was just a straw man; he ignored the real issue.
   • She accused him of building a straw man to avoid the main topic.
   • The article set up a straw man to make the opposing view look foolish.