# black rider

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/black-rider
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

## Examples

- The ancient story describes the black rider bringing hunger to the land.
- In the old prophecy, the black rider appears during times of great drought and famine.
- The villagers trembled as the dark clouds gathered, fearing the arrival of the black rider would signal the end of their harvest.

## Origin

From the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, in which the rider of the black horse represents Famine.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.