shadowbox

1. (boxing, martial arts) To practice moves without an actual opponent, often in front of a mirror.Examples: "He was shadowboxing to keep fit and practice before the big fight."; "The fighter starts to shadowbox in front of them."; "McAfferty giggled, then stepped back and shadowboxed, jabbing the air with his little fists."

2. (figuratively) To argue with an imaginary enemy.Examples: "Without being shadowboxed into psychedelic fears about losing Japan as a trader or as a friend — let us remind our Government today that Japan wants what we have and we want them to get what we have but not at the expense of our economy or at an unfair price."; "No one here is calling for Joe Peacock to be ostracized. We’re calling him on his bullshit. Brave of you to shadowbox all those non-existent censors though."; "The majority of the pages in the dissent are directed at an opinion no longer in existence. Indeed much of the dissent continues to shadowbox with an opinion we never wrote."figuratively