dark-horse
Unexpected potential winner
A dark horse is a competitor about whom little is known or who unexpectedly emerges as a contender.
The term comes from horse racing, where an unknown horse might surprise bettors.
In politics, a dark-horse candidate enters late or lacks early prominence but gains momentum: He was a dark horse who came from nowhere to win the nomination.
The phrase often carries admiration for the underdog's surprising success.
Unlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- underestimatedMisjudged as inferior
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
underrated · unfancied · challenger · contender · Cinderella story · David vs Goliath · minnow · little guy
Not yet found
- unheraldedNot publicly announced beforehand
- unsungNot praised or honored
- unknown quantityUndetermined value or factor
- under-the-radarUndetected, deliberately inconspicuous
rising star · up-and-comer · emerging · breakout · late bloomer · diamond in the rough · hidden gem · untapped
Disturb, topple, or shock
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- sleeperOne at rest
unexpected · unpredictable · twist · revelation · eye-opener · jaw-dropper · turnaround · anomaly
longshot
Unlikely to succeed
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- underestimatedMisjudged as inferior
overlooked · underrated · unfancied · challenger · contender · Cinderella story · David vs Goliath · minnow · little guy · scrappy
undiscovered
Not yet found
- unheraldedNot publicly announced beforehand
- unsungNot praised or honored
- unknown quantityUndetermined value or factor
under-the-radar · rising star · up-and-comer · emerging · breakout · late bloomer · diamond in the rough · hidden gem · untapped · latent
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
sleeper · unexpected · unpredictable · twist · revelation · eye-opener · jaw-dropper · turnaround · anomaly · spoiler
race
Competition of speed
nomination · field · frontrunner · favorite · poll · odds · betting · handicap · pundit · prediction
dark-horsefavorite
Most liked option
frontrunner · front-runner · sure thing · shoo-in · shoe-in
dark-horsehousehold name
Widely recognized person or brand
big name · known quantity · marquee name · familiar face · public figure
dark, horse, darkness, darken, horses, darkened, darkest, darker, horsing