stalking-horse

stalk·ing-horse

(stô′kĭng-hôrs′)

n.

1. Something used to cover one's true purpose; a decoy.

2. A sham candidate put forward to conceal the candidacy of another or to divide the opposition.

3.

a. A horse trained to conceal the hunter while stalking.

b. A canvas screen made in the figure of a horse, used for similar concealment.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stalking-horse

n

1. (Hunting) 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. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) 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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

stalk′ing-horse`

n.

1. a horse, or a figure of a horse, behind which a hunter hides in stalking game.

2. anything used to mask one's true plans; pretext.

3. a political candidate put forth to conceal the candidacy of another person or to draw votes from a rival.

[1510–20]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	stalking-horse - a candidate put forward to divide the Opposition or to mask the true candidate campaigner, candidate, nominee - a politician who is running for public office
	2.	stalking-horse - something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason pretext dissembling, feigning, pretense, pretence - pretending with intention to deceive putoff - a pretext for delay or inaction
	3.	stalking-horse - screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game cover, covert, concealment, screen - a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something; "a screen of trees afforded privacy"; "under cover of darkness"; "the brush provided a covert for game"; "the simplest concealment is to match perfectly the color of the background"
	4.	stalking-horse - a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game Equus caballus, horse - solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

stalking-horse

n (fig: = person) → Strohmann m → /-frau f; (= pretext) → Vorwand m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007