Dark horse

metaphor

A dark horse is a political term used to describe a little known political figure or thing that later becomes well known in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals.[1] It also describes a contestant that ideally should be unlikely to win but yet still might.[2]

Examples include Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primaries, businessman Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

References change

  1. "A dark horse". The Phrase Finder.
  2. "Dark horse". Merriam Webster.