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