human shield

Definitions

1. Civilians which a military group has deliberately placed combat targets near to deter an enemy from attacking those targets.
2. Third parties used cynically to divert attention away from accusations against oneself.
   figuratively, rhetoric

Equivalents

Examples

“And after the past few days, in which a fleet of Republicans and the president himself have⟳ utilized Jews as human shields for racist rhetoric, the Jews are tired, tired, tired of being used as defenses against naked racism, tired of being used to justify⟳ conditions at detention camps. Just plain tired.”

CEFR level