stalk·ing-horse /ˈstɔkɪŋˌhɔrs/



 Stalk·ing-horse n.
 1. A horse, or a figure resembling a horse, behind which a hunter conceals himself from the game he is aiming to kill.
 2. Fig.:  Something used to cover up a secret project; a mask; a pretense.
    Hypocrisy is the devil's stalking-horse under an affectation of simplicity and religion.   --L'Estrange.
    How much more abominable is it to make of him [Christ] and religion a stalking-horse, to get and enjoy the world!   --Bunyan.

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 stalking-horse
      n 1: a candidate put forward to divide the opposition or to mask
           the true candidate
      2: something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that
         is concocted in order to conceal the real reason [syn: pretext]
      3: screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a
         hunter hides while stalking game
      4: a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game