The idiom "stalking horse" refers to a person or thing that is used to conceal someone's true intentions or plans. It is often used in politics or business to describe a candidate or proposal that is put forward to test the waters or to distract attention from a more controversial or risky option.
The term "stalking horse" comes from the practice of using a trained horse to approach wild game without being detected. The horse would act as a shield for the hunter, allowing them to get closer to their prey without being seen.
In modern usage, a "stalking horse" can be a person or thing that is used to mask someone's true intentions. For example, a politician might use a less controversial colleague to introduce a controversial bill in order to gauge public opinion before taking a stance themselves. Similarly, a company might use a less important product to test the market before launching a more significant one.
In short, a "stalking horse" is a tactic used to conceal one's true intentions or plans by using a decoy or a less controversial option.
• I don't understand what you mean by "stalking horse".
• The CEO used the proposed merger as a stalking horse to test the waters with investors.
• The new employee acted as a stalking horse for the boss during the meeting.
• The company used their new product as a stalking horse to gather market intelligence.
• The author's use of symbolism served as a stalking horse for deeper themes in the novel.
• The politician used the issue of national security as a stalking horse to push for his own agenda.