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Nov 11, 2009
This week's themeWords with horse-related origins This week's words horse-and-buggy horse latitudes stalking horse hobbyhorse Trojan horse 
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with Anu Gargstalking horse
PRONUNCIATION:
(STAH-king HORS)
MEANING:
noun:1. Something used to mask the true purpose. 2. A candidate put forward in an election to draw votes from another or to conceal another's potential candidacy. ETYMOLOGY:
After the former practice of bird hunters of hiding behind a horse (or a decoy)
until he had reached within close range of prey.
USAGE:
"The escalation of war in Afghanistan may be only a stalking horse for an
even larger war in Pakistan as the United States seeks to secure the nukes
there."Michael Lerner; Say No to War in Afghanistan and Pakistan; San Francisco Chronicle; Oct 8, 2009. "Pollsters say Mr. Daggett is hurting Mr. Christie more, by siphoning off anti-incumbent voters. And some talk-radio hosts are asking if he is not a stalking horse for Mr. Corzine." David M. Halbfinger; Independent Candidate Stirs Up the Governor's Race in New Jersey; The New York Times; Oct 11, 2009. See more usage examples of stalking horse in Vocabulary.com's dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all. -Joey Adams, comedian (1911-1999)
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