motte and bailey
/ˌmɒt ənd ˈbeɪli/
retreating to a defensible claim when challenged, then advancing again
motte and bailey in a sentence
“Making a bold claim, defending a modest one, then acting as if the bold claim stands.”
Origin of motte and bailey
From medieval castle defense—retreating to the motte (tower) when the bailey (courtyard) is attacked
Related Words
straw man
misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack
steel man
strengthening an opponent's argument before refuting it
moving the goalposts
changing the criteria for proof after they're met
special pleading
applying standards to others that you exempt yourself from
cherry picking
selecting only evidence that supports your conclusion
quoting out of context
distorting meaning by removing surrounding context