straight men

Noun

straight man (plural straight men)

1. (idiomatic) A member (of any gender) of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in dialog with another comedian playing a more eccentric or otherwise more interesting character; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
   • For many years Bud Abbott served brilliantly as Lou Costello's deadpan straight man.

   Synonyms:

   setup man, stooge, second banana

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see straight, man; for example, a heterosexual man.
   • The committee consisted of two lesbians and a straight man.