English Idiom – Dark horse.
A little-known person who unexpectedly succeeds or does well. A contestant nobody expected to win – or someone we know very little about who turns out to have hidden talents.
The phrase comes from horse racing. A “dark” horse was one the gamblers knew nothing about, so nobody could judge its chances. The expression was made popular by Benjamin Disraeli’s 1831 novel The Young Duke, where an unknown horse wins a race.
It can also describe a person with surprising hidden qualities: “I had no idea you could sing – you’re a real dark horse!”
Horse Idioms:
- A one-horse town – a small, unimportant, boring place.
- Change horses in midstream – change your plans halfway through.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth – be grateful for gifts, don’t criticise them.
- Flog a dead horse – waste effort on something that has no chance of success.
- Get off your high horse – stop acting superior.
- Hold your horses – wait, be patient.
- Straight from the horse’s mouth – directly from the person involved.
- Wild horses couldn’t drag me away – nothing could make me leave.
Usage:
- An unknown athlete is leading an important race.
- A little-known candidate is suddenly doing well.
- A small independent film is nominated for a big award.
Example:
- “Nobody had heard of her before the competition, but she was the dark horse who won the whole thing.”
In the News
Spotted in the newsWhy Boygenius (‘The Record’) could be dark horse Grammy contenders for Album of the Yeargoldderby.comWhat 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.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
A little-known person or competitor who unexpectedly succeeds. It can also mean someone with surprising hidden talents.
From horse racing, where a “dark” horse was one nobody knew anything about. It was popularised by Benjamin Disraeli’s 1831 novel The Young Duke.
Test Yourself
What is FunkyEnglish?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!
