stalking horse
noun
1- a screen traditionally made in the shape of a horse behind which a hunter may stay concealed when stalking prey掩护马（猎人追踪猎物时用的马状遮掩物）。
1.1
- a false pretext concealing someone's real intentions掩饰; 借口, 托词。
1.2
- a candidate in an election for the leadership of a political party who stands only in order to provoke the election and thus allow a stronger candidate to come forward（选举政党领袖时, 为刺激参选, 以便能产生更强有力的候选人而参选的）掩护性候选人。
词源
early 16th cent.: from the former practice of using a horse trained to allow a fowler to hide behind it, or under its coverings, until within easy range of prey.