stalking-horse

n. a real horse,or a canvas imitationof one,from behind which the hunters lurked so as toget near the game; (fig.) anything put forward toconceal some other important move （猎人为了接近猎物而用做掩护的）真马或假马；（比喻）掩蔽物。
△As.5.4.112(106):“He uses his folly like a stalking-horse，”他把他的傻气当做猎人藏身的一只马(又译：当做藏身的烟幕)。