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Region: UK / US | Usage example: The startup was a dark horse in the funding race.

Dark horse

Meaning

An unexpected contender or talent.

Usage

Often used in competitions or elections.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

A horse racing term for little-known entrants. It appears in Benjamin Disraeli's novel The Young Duke (1831).

Used in politics from the 19th century.

Related Idioms

A shot in the dark

A guess based on little information.

Beat a dead horse

Waste effort on something already decided.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Accept gifts gratefully without critiquing them.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.