Stalking-horse for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: ,stɔkɪŋ,hɔrsWhat does Stalking-horse really mean?
Stalking-horse is a really interesting word, and I'm here to help you understand it! So, imagine you're going out on a hike, and you want to get really close to a bird without scaring it away. You come up with this fantastic idea of using a big tree as a cover, so you can slowly inch your way closer and observe the bird without it noticing you. Well, in a sense, that big tree is like a "stalking-horse."
Okay, let's break it down a bit more. A stalking-horse is a way to hide your true intentions or plans by using something or someone else as a cover or distraction. It's like creating a secret strategy to achieve a goal without letting others know what you're really up to. It's kind of like when a detective in a movie disguises themselves as a waiter, so they can get closer to a suspect without raising any suspicions. In this case, the waiter becomes a "stalking-horse" to get closer to the suspect without giving away their true identity.
The term "stalking-horse" originally comes from the world of hunting, where hunters would use a horse or a horse-shaped figure to approach their prey without being noticed. So, you can think of a stalking-horse as a way to sneak up on something or someone without them realizing it.
But wait, there's another possible meaning of "stalking-horse"! In some cases, it can also refer to a person or thing that is set up as a pretense or a decoy to attract attention or distract from something else. Picture a magician who uses a sparkly assistant to distract the audience while they perform a trick. In this case, the assistant is like a "stalking-horse" to divert attention from what the magician is really doing.
So, there you have it! "Stalking-horse" is a word that describes using something or someone as a cover or decoy to hide your true intentions or distract others. It's like using a big tree to get close to a bird without scaring it away, or a waiter disguising themselves to get closer to a suspect. It can also refer to a decoy used to divert attention. Remember, words can have multiple meanings, and it's all about how we use them in different contexts.
Okay, let's break it down a bit more. A stalking-horse is a way to hide your true intentions or plans by using something or someone else as a cover or distraction. It's like creating a secret strategy to achieve a goal without letting others know what you're really up to. It's kind of like when a detective in a movie disguises themselves as a waiter, so they can get closer to a suspect without raising any suspicions. In this case, the waiter becomes a "stalking-horse" to get closer to the suspect without giving away their true identity.
The term "stalking-horse" originally comes from the world of hunting, where hunters would use a horse or a horse-shaped figure to approach their prey without being noticed. So, you can think of a stalking-horse as a way to sneak up on something or someone without them realizing it.
But wait, there's another possible meaning of "stalking-horse"! In some cases, it can also refer to a person or thing that is set up as a pretense or a decoy to attract attention or distract from something else. Picture a magician who uses a sparkly assistant to distract the audience while they perform a trick. In this case, the assistant is like a "stalking-horse" to divert attention from what the magician is really doing.
So, there you have it! "Stalking-horse" is a word that describes using something or someone as a cover or decoy to hide your true intentions or distract others. It's like using a big tree to get close to a bird without scaring it away, or a waiter disguising themselves to get closer to a suspect. It can also refer to a decoy used to divert attention. Remember, words can have multiple meanings, and it's all about how we use them in different contexts.
Revised and Fact checked by Emma Williams on 2023-10-28 21:32:15
Stalking-horse In a sentece
Learn how to use Stalking-horse inside a sentece
- In a game of hide-and-seek, one person can act as a stalking-horse by pretending to be searching for others while actually leading them away from the best hiding spots.
- During an election, a candidate may use a popular issue as a stalking-horse to attract public support, even if their true intentions and policies differ.
- In a negotiation, a party may make a demand they don't actually want, using it as a stalking-horse to later compromise and seem reasonable.
- In a spy movie, a spy can use a decoy as a stalking-horse, pretending to be the main target to divert attention and safeguard their true mission.
- A company may release a low-priced product as a stalking-horse to gather market data and entice customers, while planning to introduce a more profitable product later.
Stalking-horse Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Stalking-horse Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.
Stalking-horse Hyponyms
Words that are more specific than the original word.