stooge
noun
- one who plays a subordinate or compliant role to a principal
- one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence
- straight man: a member of a comedy team who feeds lines to a partner who in turn replies with usually humorous quips
- stool pigeon: a person acting as a decoy or informer
verb
- to be a stooge or act as one
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /stuːd͡ʒ/
noun
Etymology: 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.
- One who knowingly allows himself or herself to be used for another's profit; a dupe.
“I'd like to show you what a wipeout looks like from the board. I'm pretty good at getting wiped out, so I'll be the stooge.”
- A magician's assistant who pretends to be a member of the audience.
- A straight man.
- A secret informant for police.
- A confederate; a person who is secretly working for the researcher, unknown to the study participant.
verb
Etymology: 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.
- To act as a straight man.