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

The Christian right opposition to Plan B is a stalking horse for banning all hormonal contraception.

From Salon

The 15-week ban was always a stalking horse for a total ban.

From Salon

"This is not a stalking horse for rate regulation. Nope. No how, no way," the chair said in October.

From Salon

For a time, that stalking horse was “inflation,” but the price increases cooled, and Biden got four years older, so here we are.

From Salon

In their 12-page filing, the prosecutors dismissed as a “conspiracy theory” a separate claim that Mr. Trump has raised in his own defense — that Mr. Biden had “secretly directed” the classified documents case and used the special counsel who filed the indictment, Jack Smith, as a “puppet” and a “stalking horse.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• also-ran
• long shot
• sleeper
• underdog