- Idiom – Dark horse
- Meaning – Someone who wins something unexpectedly. A person, animal or thing that competes in something and is not expected to win. A contestant that seems unlikely to succeed or a contestant that we know very little about.
- This expression is usually used to describe someone who has unexpectedly come from behind to lead something or to win something.
- This phrase originated from horse racing. A dark horse was a horse that was unknown to the gamblers, therefore it was to know what odds it should be.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- An unknown athlete is leading an important race.
- A little known politician is leading in the polls.
- An amateur singer is unexpectedly nominated for an award.
- A small independent movie is nominated for an international award.
Example:
- “Hugo Sanchez is a dark horse to win the FIFA Player of the Year award.”
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.