dark horse | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Someone who possessestalentsorfavorablecharacteristicsthat are notknownorexpectedby others.1952,Daphne Du Maurier, “Monte Verità”, inThe Apple Tree:‘She’s adark horse,’ he said. ‘She knows just as much about climbing mountains as you or I. In fact, she was ahead of me the whole time, and I lost her.’2005,Steve Augarde,Celandine, London:Corgi Books, published2006,→ISBN, page13:As she pulled the door closed behind her, she heard the nurse say, “Well! You’re adark horse, I must say! Do youknowthat extraordinary-looking girl?”2009,Sophie Kinsella,Twenties Girl: A Novel, London:Black Swan, published2010,→ISBN, page183:“Well!” Genevieve laughs – the kind of bright, trilling laugh you give when you’re really quite annoyed about something. “Ed, you are adark horse! I had no idea you had a girlfriend!”; (idiomatic,politics)Acandidatefor anelectionwho isnominatedunexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.2025May 11, Jason Horowitz, Emma Bubola, Elizabeth Dias, Patricia Mazzei, “How a Quiet American Cardinal Became Pope”, inThe New York Times‎[2],→ISSN:That left Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69 — a quiet Americandark horsewho had, surprisingly, emerged in the evening’s vote — as a source of particular interest.; (horse racing)A horse whose capabilities are not known.; Used other than figuratively or idiomatically:seedark,‎horse.

Examples:

EN: Let's nominate a dark horse, one of White's dark supporters.
ES: Nominemos a un candidato sorpresa. Uno de los incondicionales de White.
EN: - Must be a dark horse.
ES: Debe ser un "tapado"
EN: That was a great idea of yours, to nominate a dark horse.
ES: Una gran idea la tuya, nominar a un candidato sorpresa,
EN: however we have a dark horse with us today. A man from Utah will try his luck.
ES: Sin embargo hoy tenemos un nuevo jinete en competición... un hombre de Utah que probará su suerte.
EN: I'm waiting to see that dark horse, Mac.
ES: Estoy impaciente por verle.
EN: It's rather sporting of your father to back a dark horse.
ES: Muy deportivo de tu padre apostar por un desconocido.
EN: She's a dark horse, isn't she?
ES: Es una caja de sorpresas, ¿no?
EN: What we need in this race is a dark horse.
ES: Lo que necesitamos para ganar esta carrera es un ganador.
EN: You see, I'm a dark horse.
ES: Soy un "tapado".
EN: Yeah, I've been a dark horse for the last nine elections.
ES: Sí, he sido un "tapado" en las últimas nueve elecciones.
EN: What's this, a dark horse?
ES: ¿Un caballo negro?
EN: Who is he? You're a dark horse.
ES: ¡Eres una mosquita muerta!
EN: Hello, you beautiful dark horse.
ES: Hola, hermoso caballito negro.
EN: Yes. A dark horse, you. Ain't you, Emmy?
ES: Sí, una caja de sorpresas, ¿eso eres tú, Emmy?
EN: Thus providing a perfect track for a dark horse.
ES: Proporcionando una huella perfecta para un caballo oscuro.

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