The phrase "mere pawns" refers to people who are easily used or controlled by others, like chess pieces with limited power or importance. Full definition
But if the story told by the film - makers is even close to accurate, the world the workers live in is anything but sane, and they're struggling, after all, to feed their families without the help of the power - brokers who see them as mere pawns in a very high - stakes game. (businessethicsblog.com)
The murderers, then, come off as mere pawns in the Games, and even their chief manipulator, head Gamemaker Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), can't be blamed — he's punished for cutting them too much slack. (theatlantic.com)
Are they martyrs, mere pawns used as heavies by the Palestinians and then nudged aside once they had served their purpose? (hollywoodreporter.com)