Aunt Sally

Aunt Sally

Something or someone set up as the object of criticism, derision, or as an easily defeated opposing opinion (i.e., a straw man). Named after a game where sticks or balls are thrown at a clay or wooden head (the Aunt Sally). Primarily heard in UK. I hate hanging out with that crowd, they always aim their jokes at me like I'm an Aunt Sally. My opponent's representation of me is nothing but an Aunt Sally; he refuses to debate me on my true position and instead attacks a fictitious one from afar!
See also: aunt, sally
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • sally
  • laugh (someone or something) to scorn
  • laugh someone or something to scorn
  • straw man
  • construct
  • construct (something) from (something)
  • construct (something) out of (something)
  • construct from
  • over with
  • all over with
References in periodicals archive
FUNDRAISERS: Wendy Lucas from the flower guild, and festival organiser Vina Ross with Worzel and Aunt Sally
Worzel's floral wonders
He said: "This is no Aunt Sally. Look at the studies which have been done.
'WE CAN'T LET THIS AIRPORT HAPPEN'
Each week he tried to win the affections of stand-offish rag doll, Aunt Sally (Una Stubbs).
1980: On the box
Former Opposition peers leader in the Lords, Viscount Cranborne last night accused the Government of using the House of Lords as 'an Aunt Sally'in the row over foxhunting.
Lords play Aunt Sally as Labour stops shying away from hunt ban
HER childhood pin-up was Aunt Sally when Worzel Gummidge seems a more obvious role model.
SHELLY-OMETER; BIG BRO 8: ZIG-A-ZIG.. AH
Stuffed straw parents Worzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally celebrated their new arrival, following the success of their wedding at the church last year.
SCARECROW CRAZY; Village stages unique dummy service
The man who took just six months in the job to make the bank an all-purpose Aunt Sally by singularly ruthless branch closures, treats his annual meeting to a lecture on 'stakeholders' - how customers, staff, 'the community at large' rank alongside shareholders.
City View: Driven crazy by cars paradox
She screamed, waking her aunt Sally, who tried to convince her it was all a dream.
Your LIFE: I met my real dad.. 12 years after he died; SPIRIT & FATE
Mr Walker, who lives in Atterton Lane, Witherley, said: "Last year, we held a scaregrow wedding when a Worzel Gummidge creation was finally married to his true love, Aunt Sally.
Church puts on its charity head; CHANCE TO SEE WORZEL GUMMIDGE'S BABY AT SCARECROW CHRISTENING!
He was the American who gloried at being the highest paid chairman of any British company, who then made the luckless Mr Cedric Brown a national aunt Sally when he applied the principle recklessly in the boardroom of British Gas.
Fat cats get taste for US pay levels
Ever since Roman Abramovich arrived in west London three years ago, the club believes it has become football's Aunt Sally, an easy target for all their rivals.
Football: Their defence is brutal and ruthless; BLUES BLACKMAIL ROW: NOW DEFENDER FIRES BACK AT OLD CLUB
St Peter's Church in Witherley, near Atherstone, staged a scarecrow wedding, where a Worzel Gummidge creation was finally able to marry his true love Aunt Sally, presided over by a scarecrow vicar and flanked by scarecrow bridesmaids.
Church host to Worzel's wedding
"She was bred by my aunt Sally Hall (Leyburn trainer), she told me to buy the filly so all credit to her, and the main objective is a pounds 30,000 sales race at Doncaster in October."
Racing: WILLIAM JARVIS
Returning from New York to his Deep South hometown, Darrin learns that in order to inherit his recently deceased Aunt Sally's fortune, he has to coach the tone deaf singers to victory.
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN AT THE MOVIES: Why film isn't Beyonce's destiny; THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS Cert: PG, 123 mins
Doing her best Aunt Sally impression with over-rouged cheeks and too much mascara, Victoria sucked in her chops and attempted to gaze winningly into the camera.
3am: WHAT A TWIT!; 'Lady' Victoria Hervey drops below Big Brother reject Alex on celeb Z-list