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Glite Dictionary
straw boss

straw boss

8.7
A worker who leads other workers but has little power
  • noun
  • /strɔː bɔs/
  • Jargon
translation icon : jefe de grupo
  • My father was the straw boss for the horse crew.

Examples

  • Maybe, but maybe they are better off as a straw boss or foreman standing around while the Mexicans are doing all the work.

    Blog text (27)

  • I'm the new straw boss around here.

    Duel in the Sun (1946)

  • The straw boss had no faith in her, having watched her sweating hard to fill her sack as quickly as the children, but she was highly and suddenly vocal in her determination.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • And I'm guessing you'll find him... the gentlest, sweetest straw boss... ever to enter the pearly gates.

    Duel in the Sun (1946)

  • I'm the new straw boss around here.

  • He remembers when Hernandez was the straw boss of the infield.

Synonyms

boss
vsstraw boss
∞ 1.0

A person in charge of a group or workers

is a lower, temporary authority compared with a full person in charge
supervisor
vsstraw boss
346 2.8

A person who watches workers and helps them do their jobs correctly

has only minor authority and reports to higher site leaders
foreman
vsstraw boss
187 3.1

A person who directs and watches workers on a building site or in a factory

has lower rank and authority than the main site director
overseer
vsstraw boss
24 4.8

A person who watches and directs workers at places like a factory or construction site

is a lower, more limited supervisory role within a team
gaffer
vsstraw boss
  • UK
1 8.1

A person in charge of workers on a work site

holds less formal authority and acts under higher supervisors
delegator
vsstraw boss
1 4.7

A person who gives tasks to other people

combines task direction with minor on-site authority rather than only delegating
trail boss
vsstraw boss
  • Jargon
1 8.3

A person who leads and cares for a herd of cattle on a long drive

serves a small supervisory role within general work groups, not herds
assistant foreman
vsstraw boss
4.5

A person who helps the foreman by supervising workers

has only minor authority under the main site leader
overman
vsstraw boss
  • Archaic
7.7

A person in charge of workers in a mine or factory

occupies a smaller, less formal supervisory position in the crew
manhandler
vsstraw boss
7.5

A person who manages and directs workers

has only modest authority and usually answers to higher managers
capataz
vsstraw boss
  • US
9.9

A person who manages workers on a farm or ranch

fills a smaller, subordinate supervisory spot under the main leader

Antonyms

subordinate
38 4.6

A person with a lower job rank who follows another's orders

Surface Forms

straw boss singular
straw bosses plural

Morphology

straw + boss

While 'boss' clearly signals a supervisory role, the literal meaning of 'straw' (dried stalks) does not transparently convey the idea of minor, temporary, or proxy authority. The MWE relies on a metaphorical/jargonous extension of 'straw' (insubstantial or makeshift), so the overall meaning is partially inferable but not reliably predictable for a B1 learner without exposure.

Etymology

The noun straw boss may come from the idea of a boss made of straw, light and weak, so they look like a leader but do not have real power. That's why a straw boss is a worker who leads others but has only small power under the 'foreman'.