what do you mean by the idom "dark horse"?

Answer 1

Someone who emerges to prominence; being previously little known.

Answer 2

A dark horse candidate is one who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice. Often a dark horse is selected as a compromise when other, more prominent candidates' factions cannot come to an agreement. This metaphoric expression originally alluded to an unknown horse winning a race and was so used in a novel by Benjamin Disraeli (The Young Duke, 1831).

The expression was soon applied to political candidates, among the first of whom was James Knox Polk. He won the 1844 Democratic presidential nomination over Martin Van Buren on the eighth ballot and went on to win the election.

Answer 3

[edit] Etymology
Originally an allusion to an unknown horse winning a race, as used in an 1831 novel The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli.


[edit] Noun
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Dark horsedark horse

(idiomatic) (politics): A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.
(rare): An unexpected success
Everyone was expecting the red team to win, but the greens were the dark horse in the event.

Answer 4

dark horse
n.

1. One who achieves unexpected support and success as a political candidate, typically during a party's convention.
2. A little-known, unexpectedly successful entrant, as in a horserace.


dark horse

A little known, unexpectedly successful entrant, as in You never can tell--some dark horse may come along and win a Senate seat. This metaphoric expression originally alluded to an unknown horse winning a race and was so used in a novel by Benjamin Disraeli (The Young Duke, 1831). It soon began to be transferred to political candidates, among the first of whom was James K. Polk. He won the 1844 Democratic Presidential nomination on the eighth ballot and went on to win the election.

Answer 5

Dark horse: people who are secretive about themselves.

The idiom is usually used for an unknown but probable winner in horse racing, election, sports etc.

Example: Bangladesh may emerge the dark horse of the world cup.

Answer 6

Friend,

If in a political election a person whom no one expected to win, wins .. then he is called a 'dark horse'

Similarly in a horse race the unexpected horse that comes first or wins the race is DARK HORSE .

so that which comes into lime light most unexpectedly is called dark horse.

Answer 7

dark horse is a phrase used for a person or a group which draws attention for positive reasons though not expected to do so.

Answer 8

If someone is a dark horse, they are a bit of a mystery. But that's just my intepretation. The previous answer is also plausible..=)

Answer 9

example:: sports tournament.. a dark horse is a under dog that comes out of no where and either wins it or almost wins it. SOMETHING YOU JUST DIDN'T SEE COMING.

Answer 10

Unexpected winner in any kind of competition or race.