Have you ever been a 'dark horse?'?

Question

Figuratively speaking that is: a person who surprisingly excels at something, or victors/prospers when nobody expects them to.

Answer 1

I've been so...but not since long time

Answer 2

Meaning

Someone who emerges to prominence; being previously little known.

Origin

This was originally horse racing parlance. A dark horse was one that wasn't known to the punters and was difficult to place odds on. The figurative use later spread to other fields and has come to apply to anyone who comes under scrutiny but is previously little known.

Benjamin Disraeli provides the earliest known reference to the phrase in The Young Duke, 1831:

"A dark horse, which had never been thought of ... rushed past the grand stand in sweeping triumph."

The figurative use seems first to have been taken up when referring to the candidates for academic preferment:

The Saturday Review, 1860 - "A Headship ... often given by the College conclaves to a man who has judiciously kept himself dark."

Sketches from Cambridge, 1865 - "Every now and then a dark horse is heard of, who is supposed to have done wonders at some obscure small college."
"no"

Answer 3

yes, most definitely. i was one of the least recruited players on our college team, but ended up starting every game my freshmen year. sorry the sport was soccer.

Answer 4

My sons were amazed when I beat them all at ten pin bowling!
They now beat me at most other things.

Answer 5

I am a dark mare if that helps.

Answer 6

err yeah i am a darkhorse at art but it turns out i am :)

Answer 7

i guess so.