A Word A Day — stalking horse…

with Anu Garg

stalking horse

(STAH-king HORS)

noun:
1. Something used to mask the true purpose.
2. A candidate put forward in an election to draw votes from another or to conceal another’s potential candidacy.

After the former practice of bird hunters of hiding behind a horse (or a decoy) until he had reached within close range of prey.

“The escalation of war in Afghanistan may be only a stalking horse for an even larger war in Pakistan as the United States seeks to secure the nukes there.”
Michael Lerner; Say No to War in Afghanistan and Pakistan; San Francisco Chronicle; Oct 8, 2009.

“Pollsters say Mr. Daggett is hurting Mr. Christie more, by siphoning off anti-incumbent voters. And some talk-radio hosts are asking if he is not a stalking horse for Mr. Corzine.”
David M. Halbfinger; Independent Candidate Stirs Up the Governor’s Race in New Jersey; The New York Times; Oct 11, 2009.

Explore “stalking horse” in the Visual Thesaurus.

If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all. -Joey Adams, comedian (1911-1999)