Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun dated A horse used as
cover by ahunter stalkinggame - noun politics A
candidate put forward instead of any of several potentiallysuccessful candidates in order to initiate aleadership debate ,gauge feelings ,divide opposition etc.
Etymologies
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Examples
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whichbe commented on the word stalking horse
A stalking horse is a strategy or something used to conceal your intentions. It is often used where someone put themselves forwards as a candidate to divide opponents or to hide the real candidate.
May 21, 2008
cryptofascistbbq commented on the word stalking horse
noun 1 a false pretext concealing someone’s real intentions. 2 a candidate for the leadership of a political party who stands only in order to provoke an election and thus allow a stronger candidate to come forward.
-Compact Oxford English Dictionary
October 21, 2009
devans00 commented on the word stalking horse
MEANING:
noun:
1. Something used to mask the true purpose.
2. A candidate put forward in an election to draw votes from another or to conceal another's potential candidacy.
ETYMOLOGY:
After the former practice of bird hunters of hiding behind a horse (or a decoy) until he had reached within close range of prey.
This week's theme: words about government, politics, and elections.
http://wordsmith.org/words/stalking_horse.html
_________________________________________________
1. Something used to cover one's true purpose; a decoy.
2. A sham candidate put forward to conceal the candidacy of another or to divide the opposition.
3. A horse trained to conceal the hunter while stalking. A canvas screen made in the figure of a horse, used for similar concealment.
http://wordsmith.org/words/stalking-horse.html
November 12, 2009