# stooge

/ˈstudʒ/ (US) · /stˈuːdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stooge
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a puppet or dupe

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who is used by a powerful person or group to do something for them, often in a way that is not honest.

For teachers: 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.

- The protesters claimed the new mayor was just a stooge for the big oil companies.
- Critics argued that the regulatory board was populated by corporate stooges who had no intention of enforcing the new environmental laws.

Teaching tip: This is a derogatory term; it implies the person lacks a backbone or is being manipulated.

### 2. a secret assistant

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person who pretends to be a normal member of the public but is actually working for a magician or a researcher.

For teachers: a confederate or assistant who poses as a neutral bystander or participant to facilitate a deception or experimental outcome.

- The magician asked for a volunteer, but the person who stood up was actually a stooge.
- In the social psychology experiment, a stooge was planted in the group to see if the real participants would conform to his incorrect answers.

Usage: In psychology, 'confederate' is the more formal academic term, while 'stooge' is common in older literature.

### 3. comedy partner

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

the person in a comedy team who acts serious so that the other person can be funny.

For teachers: the 'straight man' in a comedy duo who serves as a foil for the lead comedian's jokes.

- He played the stooge in the comedy act, taking all the pies to the face while his partner got the laughs.
- The classic double act relies on a competent stooge who can maintain a deadpan expression despite the absurdity of the lead performer.

Teaching tip: Often associated with 'The Three Stooges', a famous American comedy act.

### 4. to act as a subordinate

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to work for someone else as a helper or to do their boring or dishonest work.

For teachers: to perform the role of a subordinate or a straight man; to act as a stooge for another.

- He spent years stooging for the local boss before he finally got a promotion.
- The junior associate was tired of stooging for the senior partners and decided to start his own firm.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'for'.

## Examples

- The comedian's stooge fell over every time he walked on stage.
- In the classic comedy routine, the stooge is the one who constantly makes mistakes while the main character remains calm.
- The psychologist observed how the stooge's lack of critical thinking allowed the leader to manipulate the group's decision-making process during the experiment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.