stooge
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.someone who is used by a powerful person or group to do something for them, often in a way that is not honest.
n.a person who allows themselves to be used by another for a subordinate or deceptive purpose, often acting as a front for a more powerful entity.
Simple“The protesters claimed the new mayor was just a stooge for the big oil companies.”
In context“Critics argued that the regulatory board was populated by corporate stooges who had no intention of enforcing the new environmental laws.”
Teacher's tipThis is a derogatory term; it implies the person lacks a backbone or is being manipulated.
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person who pretends to be a normal member of the public but is actually working for a magician or a researcher.
n.a confederate or assistant who poses as a neutral bystander or participant to facilitate a deception or experimental outcome.
Simple“The magician asked for a volunteer, but the person who stood up was actually a stooge.”
In context“In the social psychology experiment, a stooge was planted in the group to see if the real participants would conform to his incorrect answers.”
UsageIn psychology, 'confederate' is the more formal academic term, while 'stooge' is common in older literature.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the person in a comedy team who acts serious so that the other person can be funny.
n.the 'straight man' in a comedy duo who serves as a foil for the lead comedian's jokes.
Simple“He played the stooge in the comedy act, taking all the pies to the face while his partner got the laughs.”
In context“The classic double act relies on a competent stooge who can maintain a deadpan expression despite the absurdity of the lead performer.”
Teacher's tipOften associated with 'The Three Stooges', a famous American comedy act.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to work for someone else as a helper or to do their boring or dishonest work.
v.to perform the role of a subordinate or a straight man; to act as a stooge for another.
Simple“He spent years stooging for the local boss before he finally got a promotion.”
In context“The junior associate was tired of stooging for the senior partners and decided to start his own firm.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'for'.
Synonymssubserveassist
Perhaps an abbreviation of Russian студе́нт (studént) [stʊˈdʲent]; the original meaning was “stage assistant, actor who assists a comedian”. It may have been a Yiddish vaudeville term.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.