willow in the wind

plural willows in the wind

1. idiomaticOne whose views are easily and regularly changed by the persuasion or influence of others.

   Justice is not a willow in the wind; justice stands immutable against unjust forces.

   1989, Gerry Spence, With Justice for None, →ISBN, page 5

   3 more examples

   [T]he CAB has rightfully seen Congress as a willow in the wind, bending to the wishes of whatever special interest groups and businesses speak loudest.

   1984 March 22, “Editorial: Smoking ban still up in the air”, in Reading Eagle, USA, retrieved 21 Jun 2011, page 4

   If he has to vote against taxes, he will—and his vote won't change from day to day: “I'm not gonna be a willow in the wind.”

   1992 June 25, “Local: Florida Senate”, in Miami Herald, retrieved 21 Jun 2011, page 5B

   Ethics begin to feel situational, a balancing of concerns. When this happens, we no longer have any firm ethic to stand on. We become an ethical willow in the wind.

   2008, Ronald Arthur Howard, Clinton D. Korver, Ethics for the Real World, →ISBN, page 40

   Synonyms: pushover, vacillator, waffler