stalking horse

[ staw-king hawrs ]

noun

1. a horse, or a figure of a horse, behind which a hunter hides in stalking game.
2. anything put forward to mask plans or efforts; pretext.
3. a political candidate used to conceal the candidacy of a more important figure or to draw votes from and cause the defeat of a rival.

stalking-horse

noun

1. a horse or an imitation one used by a hunter to hide behind while stalking his quarry
2. something serving as a means of concealing plans; pretext
3. a candidate put forward by one group to divide the opposition or mask the candidacy of another person for whom the stalking-horse would then withdraw

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalking horse¹

First recorded in 1510–20

Example Sentences

Second, there isn't any reason to believe that Obama is using Goldberg as a stalking horse against Netanyahu.

From The Daily Beast

He used a third-party spoiler candidate in the race, Don Sprouse, as an anti-Semitic stalking horse.

From The Daily Beast

Going into the vote, he was denounced as a stalking horse for the presidential aspirations of Barbour, the Mississippi governor.

From The Daily Beast

Back in 2006, Patrick was seen as a stalking horse for Obama.

From The Daily Beast

Butts had been introduced as a stalking-horse, but there was no doubt about Si's admiration of his "handiness."

From Project Gutenberg

It was the stalking horse behind which Offenbach hunted the follies of the day and bagged the absurdities of the hour.

From Project Gutenberg

For the same reason the passions are the main theme of poets and the stalking horse of actors.

From Project Gutenberg

"For my dough they've given up trying to find her and are using you for a stalking horse," he added with fiendish accuracy.

From Project Gutenberg

Better never profess than make profession a stalking horse to sin, deceit, the devil, and hell.'

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• also-ran
• long shot
• sleeper
• underdog