stalking-horse
/'stɔ:kiɳhɔ:s/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A literal horse or a screen shaped like a horse: An object used by a hunter to conceal themselves while approaching game.
- A pretext or deceptive means: Something used to conceal one's true intentions or plans.
- A political decoy candidate: A candidate put forward in an election to draw votes from an opponent or to conceal the identity or test the strength of another, more serious candidate.
Usage Examples
- Literal/Object:
- The hunter used a stalking-horse to get close to the deer.
- Pretext/Deception:
- The company's environmental survey was merely a stalking-horse for its real estate development plans.
- Political Candidate:
- The party ran a stalking-horse candidate to challenge the unpopular incumbent in the primary.
Advanced Usage
- "to be/act as a stalking-horse for": To serve as a cover or decoy for someone or something else.
- The minor policy change acted as a stalking-horse for a much more radical overhaul of the system.
Variants and Related Words
- Stalk (verb): To pursue or approach stealthily.
- Decoy (noun): A person or thing used to lure someone into a trap or situation.
Synonyms
- Pretext: A reason given to justify an action that is not the real reason.
- Front: A person or organization serving as a cover for subversive or illegal activities.
- Smokescreen: Something designed to conceal, confuse, or mislead.
Related Phrases
- Trojan horse: (Idiom) Something intended to undermine or subvert from within. While similar in the concept of deception, a "Trojan horse" implies infiltration and betrayal, whereas a "stalking-horse" implies concealment and misdirection of intent.
Noun
- a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
- screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
- something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
- a candidate put forward to divide the Opposition or to mask the true candidate