Definition of stalking horse

The term "stalking horse" originates from a 16th-century political tactic called "bArgaining by proxy." In this strategy, a powerful individual would covertly support an opponent's campaign, making him or her appear more popular than they actually were. The idea was to drive up the opponent's price in negotiations, making it seem like a better deal to settle with the favored candidate. This pretended supporter, who would often appear at candidate debates to ask tough questions or challenge the opponent, was known as the "stalking horse." The analogy in procession refers to the way knights used to carry a hobbyhorse ahead of them into battle, to create a distraction that would lead the enemy's horses into following the "stalking horse." In modern times, a stalking horse is still used as a political term to describe a candidate who is put forth merely as a pretense or an excuse to further another person's political ambitions. It is also used more broadly to describe a sometimes insincere form of support, specifically one that masks a deeper agenda. Sources: - Dictionary.com - https://www.dictionary.com/e/words-near-stalking-horse/ - Merriam-Webster - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalking%20horse - Encyclopedia Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/topic/stalking-horse - Cambridge Dictionary - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/stalking-horse - Oxford Learners' Dictionaries - https://learnenglish.oup.com/dictionary/stalking-horse/ - Online Etymology Dictionary - https://www.etymonline.com/word/stalking-horse