makeweight

They want to use you as a makeweight in their game of wresting from the Russian workers their dearly-won liberty.

I carefully noted all flaws, however slight, in each pipkin of his warehouse and set all such damaged goods aside as a makeweight.

It opened without the intended makeweight, and the court of France was less inclined to make concessions for a peace.

And then, as a makeweight in the bargain, the venal sacristan placed in my hands the head of Charlemagne.

Hitherto the supernatural has always been the makeweight of human ignorance; is it, in truth, this and nothing else?