Word
stalking-horse
幌子；托词
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
- 1.
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
遮掩计划的事物；为掩盖真实原因而编造的虚假理由。
- 2.
a candidate put forward to divide the Opposition or to mask the true candidate
为分裂反对派或掩盖真正候选人而提出的候选人。
- 3.
screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
猎人狩猎时藏在后面、状似马形的屏障。
掩护候选人；幌子候选人；狩猎用马形掩体；遮掩计划的事物；为掩盖真实原因而编造的虚假理由。；为分裂反对派或掩盖真正候选人而提出的候选人。；猎人狩猎时藏在后面、状似马形的屏障。
In use
The company used the environmental survey as a stalking-horse to delay the project.
His interest in the old house was only a stalking-horse for his plan to buy the whole street.
The proposal was a stalking-horse, and the real agenda appeared only later.
a stalking-horse for [sth/sb]
stalking-horse 常与 for 连用，表示作为…的幌子。
He was just a stalking-horse for the real candidate.
他只是真正候选人的掩蔽候选人。
use [sth] as a stalking-horse
The company used environmental issues as a stalking-horse for its tax evasion.
该公司以环境问题为掩护进行逃税。
serve as a stalking-horse
Connections
Confusing words
- decoy
- 诱饵 · decoy指用来引诱别人进入陷阱的人或物；stalking-horse指用来隐蔽自己或掩盖真实意图的幌子，侧重隐蔽而非引诱。
- smokescreen
- 烟幕 · smokescreen指用来掩盖真实行动或意图的言语或行为，常带有欺骗性；stalking-horse则强调作为掩饰的幌子，但本身可能无欺骗性。
Learner notes
Grammar Note
常作比喻用，指用作掩护的人或物。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.