Decoy
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3
Strategic Deception
A decoy in this sense is part of a plan to mislead, often used in clever or strategic situations. The chess player's move was a decoy to lure his opponent into a mistake.
Pro Tip 2/3
Attention Shift
Decoys are meant to shift one's attention from the real target or action taking place. In the movie, the flashy car was used as a decoy to shift the police's attention.
Pro Tip 3/3
Caution with Context
The term decoy may imply dishonesty or manipulation, so be careful with its connotation depending on the context. Calling someone's argument a decoy can suggest they are being intentionally deceptive.