What is the difference between: a henchman, a lackey and minions?

[dixiegrrrrl]

Our morning coffee discussion of the Evil Doers Handbook revealed some varied definitions of each role.


What say you?

[charlie and algernon]

1. Minions and Lackey

Minions


Lackey

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. ahh....THAT clears things up.

:rofl:

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. Though all are, to varying degrees, antiquated terms...

.
.
.
.
.
... I think "henchmen" were more capable of individual action and decisions
and usually associated with the "common" criminal element (or a political
leader's inner security force), whereas "lackeys" and "minions" (and you
omitted MY personal favorite -- "toadies") were more often relatively
mindless and uber-controlled followers of political, social or religious
leaders.
.
.
Militia members may very well be "henchmen" who, though seriously misguided,
at least have come to some or many of their conclusions through reading and
or observation/experience... while "toadies" are exemplified by teabaggers who
regurgitate the swill that they're fed and call it "awareness of the Truth".
.
.
.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. " toadies"...we had not yet gotten to toadies before we were sidetracked

by henchman.

I would think the employment picture would be brighter these days for henchmen, since we have more villains,
and as we all know,
villains NEED their henchmen and lackeys.

( Y'all DO realize I am referencing a tongue in cheek morning discussion, yes?)

[KamaAina]

4. Dick Cheney: henchman. John Boner: lackey.

Teabaggers: minions.

[madinmaryland]

12. Uhmm. Henchman: Scooter Libby; Ringleader: Dick Cheney.

[Throd]

6. I have to pay my henchmen.

My lackeys do my bidding in a pathetic attempt to curry my favor.

My minions actually believe the bullshit I spout.

[struggle4progress]

7. The henchman was a crazy organist made famous in "The henchman of Notre Dame."

Minions are a common cooking ingredient, often used with garlic

"Lackey" is a word gramma used when trying to feed folk her strychnine-laced cookies: "Tryee! You lackey!"

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Now THERE'S a definition appropriate for around these parts.

:evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[realisticphish]

9. Henchmen are more trustworthy

lower level, but capable of individual actions. Lackeys suck up and cringe, devoted-to-your-every-whim kind of thing. Minions are cannon fodder.

[csziggy]

10. Great definitions! But where do flunkeys fit into the hierarchy? n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Oh noes!!! We forgot about the flunkeys!!

Do they fall above lackeys, but below toadies?

and another thing for morning coffee:

why do the evil doers have " assistants" ( a lot of them)
but the good guy has ONE sidekick?
( who seems to be recently promoted from toady)

[haele]

13. Flunkeys are messengers or bag-men. They get stuck carrying things.

They don't actually "do" anything, they deliver things and run errands.
Toadies are suck-ups who are not directly associated to the supreme evil-doer, they are usually fellow travellers or wanna-bes who have not learned the secret password but are trying really, really hard to be allowed to join the club.

Scooter Libby was a flunky. Steve Doucy is a Toady.

That's my take.

Haele

[csziggy]

14. Works for me. n/t