stooge, n. & v. colloq.
--n.
1 a butt or foil, esp. for a comedian.
2 an assistant or subordinate, esp. for routine or unpleasant work.
3 a compliant person; a puppet.
--v.intr.
1 (foll. by for) act as a stooge for.
2 (foll. by about, around, etc.) move about aimlessly.

Etymology

20th c.: orig. unkn.

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THESAURUS

stooge

Charlie McCarthy, Roscius, act, act as foil, actor, actress, adherent, agent, also-ran, ancilla, antagonist, appear, appendage, apple-polisher, appliance, ass-licker, attendant, babe, backscratcher, backslapper, bad guy, barnstorm, barnstormer, boob, booby, bootlick, bootlicker, brown-nose, brownie, buff, cavaliere servente, character, character actor, character man, character woman, child actor, chump, cinch, clawback, come out, contrivance, courtier, creature, credulous person, cringer, cull, dangler, defeatee, dependent, device, disciple, diseur, diseuse, dramatizer, duck, dummy, dupe, easy mark, easy pickings, emote, emotionalize, fall guy, fan, fawner, feeder, feudatory, figurehead, fish, flatterer, flunky, foil, follower, following, fool, footlicker, front, front man, game loser, get top billing, gillie, go-between, gobe-mouches, good loser, good sport, goon, greener, greenhorn, greeny, groveler, gudgeon, gull, handmaid, handmaiden, handshaker, hanger-on, heavy, helot, henchman, histrio, histrion, homager, homme de cour, implement, inferior, ingenue, innocent, instrument, interagent, intermediary, intermediate, intermedium, jackal, juvenile, kowtower, lackey, lay figure, leadpipe cinch, led captain, lever, lickspit, lickspittle, liege, liege man, loser, man, matinee idol, mealymouth, mechanism, mediator, medium, midwife, mime, mimer, mimic, minion, monkey, monologist, mummer, myrmidon, nominal head, organ, pantomime, pantomimist, parasite, partisan, patsy, patter, pawn, peon, perform, pigeon, play, play the lead, playact, playactor, player, plaything, prize sap, protean actor, public, puppet, pursuer, pursuivant, pushover, reciter, register, retainer, sap, saphead, satellite, schlemiel, sectary, serf, servant, shadow, sitting duck, sketch, slave, soubrette, spaniel, sport, stage performer, stage player, star, steal the show, straight man, stroller, strolling player, subordinate, successor, suck, sucker, supporter, sycophant, tagtail, tail, the vanquished, theatrical, thespian, thug, timeserver, toad, toady, tool, toy, trainbearer, tread the boards, troupe, trouper, truckler, trusting soul, tufthunter, underdog, underling, understrapper, upstage, utility man, vassal, vehicle, victim, villain, votary, ward heeler, yeoman, yes-man

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ROGET THESAURUS

stooge

Auxiliary

N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.

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