comeback kid
Perennial bounce-back artist
A comeback kid is someone who recovers from setbacks, defeats, or low points to succeed again.
The phrase suggests resilience and the ability to rebound when others have counted you out: After losing three matches in a row, she proved she was the comeback kid by winning the championship.
Often applied to politicians, athletes, or entertainers whose careers revive after decline.
Persistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
resolve · persistence · willpower · stamina · toughness · perseverance · bounceback · recovery
Unlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
contender · underestimated · undervalued · unrecognized · unfancied · little guy · counted out · written off
Defeating an opponent
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- winnerOne who prevails
- successFavorable outcome attained
- gloryExalted honor and praise
crowning moment · celebration · achievement · overcoming · breakthrough · reclaiming · return to form · redemption arc
Compensation for wrongdoing
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- renewalMaking current again
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- rectificationAct of setting straight
reformation · vindication · exoneration · forgiveness · second chance · reinvention · turnaround · restoration
tenacity
Persistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
fortitude · resolve · persistence · willpower · stamina · toughness · perseverance · bounceback · recovery · rebound
dark horse
Unlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
challenger · contender · underestimated · undervalued · unrecognized · unfancied · little guy · counted out · written off · against the odds
victory
Defeating an opponent
glory · crowning moment · celebration · achievement · overcoming · breakthrough · reclaiming · return to form · redemption arc · against all odds
atonement
Compensation for wrongdoing
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- renewalMaking current again
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
rectification · reformation · vindication · exoneration · forgiveness · second chance · reinvention · turnaround · restoration · making amends
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- underdogsunderdog, underdogs, Cinderella, sleeper, dark horse
- babyfacesJohn Cena, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, good guy, hero
- celebrity typesdiva, heartthrob, icon, bombshell, leading man
- game show peoplecontestant, host, winner, loser, announcer
- do-oversdo-over, redo, retry, second chance, second try
comeback kidquitter
One who surrenders
has-been · washed-up · never-was · one-hit wonder · flash in the pan
comeback kidsore loser
One who pouts after defeat
capitulator · surrenderer · poor sport · defeatist · crybaby
comeback kidfading star
Celebrity past their prime
yesterday's news · fade-out · fallen idol · spent force · flameout
back, come, coming, kids, came, comeback, kidding, comes, comer