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