stalking horse
Candidate masking intentions
A stalking horse is something used to conceal true intentions.
The term comes from hunters hiding behind horses to approach game.
In politics, a stalking horse is a candidate put forward to test the waters or divide opposition, masking the real contender: He was just a stalking horse for the party's preferred nominee.
More broadly, anything that serves as cover for a hidden purpose: The charity was a stalking horse for money laundering.
False target for misdirection
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- pretextFabricated motive concealing truth
facade · smokescreen · feint · diversion · cover · front · blind · sham
Person seeking selection
- front-runnerLikely winner
- primaryChief in importance
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
contender · aspirant · caucus · ballot · campaign · endorsement · platform · trial balloon
Authorized substitute
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- trial balloonPreliminary test of opinion
opening gambit · surrogate · third party · go-between · agent · placeholder · exploratory
Act of hiding something
- coverProtect by overlaying
- blindLacking the sense of sight
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- hideConceal or pelt
approach · quarry · prey · game · ambush · hunter · fowling · wildfowl
Assuming command of something
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- bidOffer to purchase
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- hostile bidUnsolicited acquisition offer
tender offer · buyout · shareholder · target company · raider · merger · front company · shell company
decoy
False target for misdirection
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
pretext · facade · smokescreen · feint · diversion · cover · front · blind · sham · charade
candidate
Person seeking selection
- front-runnerLikely winner
- primaryChief in importance
- nomineeOne proposed for position
challenger · contender · aspirant · caucus · ballot · campaign · endorsement · platform · trial balloon · spoiler
proxy
Authorized substitute
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
trial balloon · opening gambit · surrogate · third party · go-between · agent · placeholder · exploratory
concealment
Act of hiding something
- coverProtect by overlaying
- blindLacking the sense of sight
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
hide · approach · quarry · prey · game · ambush · hunter · fowling · wildfowl · pursuit
takeover
Assuming command of something
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- bidOffer to purchase
- proxyAuthorized substitute
hostile bid · tender offer · buyout · shareholder · target company · raider · merger · front company · shell company
- Horse Idiomsworkhorse, horseplay, horsing around, one-trick pony, pony up
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
stalking horsedirect approach
Unsubtle, frontal method
final offer · endgame · knockout blow · closing argument · trump card
horse, stalk, horses, horsey, stalker, stallion, stalking, stalked, stalkers