dark horse

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dark horse

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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dark horse

1. (Individual Sports, other than specified) a competitor in a race or contest about whom little is known; an unknown

2. a person who reveals little about himself or herself or his or her activities, esp one who has unexpected talents or abilities

3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) politics US a candidate who is unexpectedly nominated or elected

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dark′ horse′

1. a competitor that is relatively unknown or that wins unexpectedly.

2. a candidate who is unexpectedly nominated at a political convention.

[1825–35]

dark horse

A candidate or entrant in a race who achieves unexpected support or success; apparently from a well-known Tennessee horse trader who owned a fast black stallion and would ride it like an ordinary horse to fool others into racing against it for money.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	dark horse - a political candidate who is not well known but could win unexpectedly campaigner, candidate, nominee - a politician who is running for public office
	2.	dark horse - a racehorse about which little is known bangtail, race horse, racehorse - a horse bred for racing

Translations

sorpresa

dark horse

n (fig) to be a dark horse → essere un'incognita

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

The third, a bit of a dark horse from the first, was at the end of eighteen months something of a dark horse still to the department.

View in context

I 'm the dark horse. Nobody knows me--not even Young Sandow.

View in context

It was noted, in following years, that several leaders of workmen built themselves houses and blocks of renting flats and took trips to the old countries, while, more immediately, other leaders and "dark horses" came to political preferment and the control of the municipal government and the municipal moneys.

View in context

Dark horse for VP but obvious choice for Treasury Secretary.

Kerry's short list: truth is, the Senator hasn't relied much on economic advisers, but the new team emerging is heavily Clintonesque

John Edwards is my friend Walter Shapiro's dark horse, and mine too, despite his dismaying lack of government experience.

President pothole

Dark Horse Comics offers a series of comics workbooks focused on introducing and advancing basic academic skills.

Comics that teach. (Free or Inexpensive)

Schreck went directly from high school to employment at a printing firm, and his comics-industry career has since included marketing, editorial, and administrative stints at Marvel Comics, Comico, Dark Horse Comics, and Oni Press, which he founded with Joe Nozemack.

Shining a Lantern on hate crimes: DC Comics' Green Lantern shows that even superheroes can be affected by gay bashing. (Media)

Today, the book is still unwritten, but that spare room served as the birthplace for Dark Horse Comics, Inc., the third-largest producer of comics literature in the nation.

A comic approach

LOS ANGELES -- The Latest on a jury's verdict that Katy Perry's hit "Dark Horse" improperly copied elements of a 2009 Christian rap song (all times local):

Jury told Katy Perry hit 'Dark Horse' earned $41M

LOS ANGELES The penalty phase of a copyright infringement trial over Katy Perry's hit "Dark Horse" opened Tuesday with attorneys for the creators of a Christian rap song telling jurors that the pop superstar's 2013 song earned $41 million overall.

Jury in copyright case told Katy Perry hit earned $41M

That's the question at the centre of rapper Flame's court case against Perry and her 'Dark Horse' collaborators -- rapper Juicy J, songwriter Sarah Hudson and producers Dr Luke and Max Martin.

Did Katy Perry plagiarise for 'Dark Horse'?

The shows start with a trip to The Dark Horse on Moseley's Alcester Road this Thursday supporting Brummie band Tall Stories.