Example
“Arguing against the cheapest option is a straw man; nobody proposed it.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
red herring
CEFR C1a misleading clue or distraction that draws attention away from the real issue
Neutral
brain power
CEFR B1intelligence or mental ability used to think and solve problems
Informal
let the cat out of the bag
CEFR B1To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.
Informal
pull someone's leg
CEFR B1To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.
Informal
slippery slope
CEFR B1a course of action that seems small or harmless but leads, step by step, to a serious or disastrous result
Neutral
spill the beans
CEFR B1To reveal a secret, often accidentally.
Informal
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.