dark horse
Quick Summary
A "dark horse" is a contender in a competition who is not well-known or expected to win, but performs exceptionally well. The term originated in horse racing to describe a horse with unknown potential that could defy gambling odds.12
It is also used in politics to describe a candidate who unexpectedly wins a nomination, often as a compromise between factions. The first U.S. presidential dark horse nominee was James K. Polk in the 1844 election, who went on to win the presidency. The term has been in use since at least 1821.12
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