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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
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Dark Horse (Origin)
What Is the Origin of the Saying "Dark Horse"?
The term "dark horse" means a person who keeps their abilities secret.
Examples of Use:
- John Major is now the Prime Minister? Well, he was a dark horse, wasn't he?
- Simon Bates did not drop a mark in the Algebra test. He's a real dark horse.
- Did you do that drawing? Wow, you're a proper dark horse.
- It came to light.
- Enlighten me.
- Shed light on something
- We were kept in the dark.
- Dark matter
- "A dark horse which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph."

- Black beauty? He's a dark horse. (Comedian Tim Vine) (You can't have a page on "Dark Horse" without this joke. Sorry.)
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