stalking horse

1. (dated)A horse used as cover by a hunter stalking game.

   засло́нная ло́шадьzaslónnaja lóšadʹ

2. (idiomatic)A candidate put forward to serve a hidden, ulterior purpose in a political campaign, such as testing the field for another potential candidate by gauging voter sentiment or covertly helping another candidate by attracting voters away from a third candidate.

3. (broadly, idiomatic)A person, thing, or expedient used in a deceptive manner, to achieve some hidden purpose.

4. The first bid on a bankrupt company, which sets the low bar for further bidding

regular

• stalking-horsealternative