rank outsider
No-chance competitor
A rank outsider is a competitor given almost no chance of winning—someone so far outside the favorites that their victory would shock everyone.
The phrase comes from horse racing but applies to any contest: The rank outsider came from nowhere to win the championship.
Rank here intensifies outsider, emphasizing extreme improbability.
- wild cardUnpredictable factor in play
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- long shotUnlikely to succeed
- unfanciedNot expected to win
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
also-ran · unhopeful · underestimated · off the radar · rags-to-riches · sleeper hit · unlikely hero · underachiever · nonstarter · upset · surprise winner · overlooked · Cinderella story · out of nowhere · misjudged · redemption arc · against all odds · x-factor
rank outsiderfavorite
Most liked option
front-runner · favourite · hot favorite · top seed · number one seed
rank outsiderinsider
One with confidential access
front-runner · heir apparent · chosen one · consensus pick · safe pair of hands
rank, ranks, ranked, ranking, rankings, ranker, outsider, outsiders, outside