dark horse
Unexpected potential winner
A dark horse is a competitor about whom little is known, making their chances difficult to predict.
The term comes from horse racing, where an unfamiliar entry might surprise bettors.
Now it applies broadly to anyone who emerges unexpectedly as a serious contender: She was a dark horse candidate who won the nomination.
A dark horse often suggests hidden strengths or underestimation by others.
Misjudged as inferior
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- comebackRecovery after decline
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
challenger · surprise · longshot · outsider · unheralded · unsung · underrated · against the odds
One competing seriously
- competitorOne striving against others
- rivalOne who competes against
- raceCompetition of speed
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
field · odds · betting · gamble · upset · surprise · winner · finalist
Person seeking selection
- primaryChief in importance
- electionOrganized public voting
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- nomineeOne proposed for position
ballot · caucus · convention · delegate · frontrunner · contender · poll · upset
Beyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- unfamiliarNot previously known
- obscureUnknown to most
- unheard-ofLacking any precedent
anonymous · faceless · shadowy · secretive · inscrutable · unpredictable · uncertain · hidden
underestimated
Misjudged as inferior
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- comebackRecovery after decline
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
upset · challenger · surprise · longshot · outsider · unheralded · unsung · underrated · against the odds · Cinderella story
contender
One competing seriously
- competitorOne striving against others
- rivalOne who competes against
- raceCompetition of speed
tournament · field · odds · betting · gamble · upset · surprise · winner · finalist · bracket
candidate
Person seeking selection
nominee · ballot · caucus · convention · delegate · frontrunner · contender · poll · upset · victory
mysterious
Beyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- unfamiliarNot previously known
- obscureUnknown to most
unheard-of · anonymous · faceless · shadowy · secretive · inscrutable · unpredictable · uncertain · hidden · veiled
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, eats like a bird
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind
- Horse Idiomshold your horses, high horse, straight from the horse's mouth, horse sense, beating a dead horse
- long shotslong shot, longshot, long odds, slim chance, outside chance
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- Color Idiomsblack sheep, blue moon, green light, red flag, white lie
dark horsefavorite
Most liked option
lock · cinch · sure thing · shoo-in · safe bet
dark horseknown quantity
Established, predictable element
household name · familiar face · celebrity · public figure · big name
darkness, darken, darkened, underdog, darkest, darkly, darker, darkens, darkening