dark horse
noun
a racehorse, competitor, etc., about whom little is known or who unexpectedly wins.
dark horses
-
pluralof dark horse.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He made three appearances for his nation - who many thought were dark horses for the tournament.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
But we expected more ambition from the perennial dark horses.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
It’s too early to crown winners, but one firm is betting on two of the sector’s dark horses.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
Nonetheless, he has some dark horses who might not meet his model’s high standards but could still shock the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
Chargaff, as one of the world’s experts on DNA, was at first not amused by dark horses trying to win the race.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
