World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDark horse
/ˈdɑːrk hɔːrs/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly succeeds.
"In the election, the dark horse candidate surprised everyone by winning the majority of votes." - 2
A person or thing that is not well known but has the potential to succeed.
"The startup was considered a dark horse in the tech industry, quickly gaining traction against established companies."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in 19th-century turf horse racing, the term originally referred to a horse about which little was known, making it difficult for gamblers to bet on its chances. Over time, the phrase transitioned from literal racing jargon into a broader political and cultural metaphor describing an unexpected contender who unexpectedly wins or achieves prominence.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Dark horse"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Dark horse" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cavalo escuro
Transliteration: ka-va-lo es-ku-ro
"O candidato era um cavalo escuro nas eleições."
cheval noir
Transliteration: shuh-val nwahr
"Le candidat était un cheval noir dans les élections."
dunkles Pferd
Transliteration: dunk-les pferd
"Der Kandidat war ein dunkles Pferd in der Wahl."
cavallo oscuro
Transliteration: ka-val-lo os-ku-ro
"Il candidato era un cavallo oscuro nelle elezioni."
caballo oscuro
Transliteration: ka-ba-yo os-ku-ro
"El candidato era un caballo oscuro en las elecciones."
अज्ञात घोड़ा
Transliteration: ajñāt ghodā
"चुनाव में वह एक अज्ञात घोड़ा था।"
黑马
Transliteration: hēi mǎ
"在选举中，他是一个黑马。"
다크호스
Transliteration: dakeuhoseu
"선거에서 그는 다크호스였다."
ダークホース
Transliteration: dākuhōsu
"選挙で彼はダークホースだった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsA barracks or building intended for the accommodation of soldiers, usually located within a fortified place.
A secondary residence owned or rented by a family or individual, used primarily for recreational purposes, holidays, or seasonal getaways.
Not producing or containing venom; incapable of injecting poison through a bite, sting, or other mechanism.
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