a stalking horse



a stalking horse

 
1. a politician who tests the strength of a party's support for its leader by competing for the job of leading the party although they do not really intend to be elected He was a stalking horse, intended to undermine what was regarded at the time as a weak leadership.
2. something that is used to hide someone's real purpose It's feared that the talks are just a stalking horse for a much wider deal between the two parties.
See also: horse, stalk

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
EsdrasEZ-drəs (English)Biblical, Biblical Greek
Ackland['æklənd]
Absolonab-so-LAWNFrench
Suzusoo-zooJapanese
Lillianalil-ee-AN-əEnglish (Modern)
Sophus-Ancient Greek (Latinized)