# dark horse

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/dark-horse
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Someone who possesses talents or favorable characteristics that are not known or expected by others.

## Examples

- He is a dark horse in this competition.
- Nobody expected the quiet student to win the debate, but he proved to be a real dark horse.
- Although the seasoned politicians dominated the early polls, the dark horse candidate surged ahead after a series of unexpected and impressive public performances.

## Origin

Originally an allusion to an unknown horse with a dark coat winning a race, as used in the 1831 novel The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881).

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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.