Phraseologism "dark horse". Meaning, history and use

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Sometimes you look at a person and realize that something is wrong with him. But it is impossible to explain to yourself what seems so suspicious in the interlocutor. In the people it is customary to call such persons dark horses. The meaning of this term and consider below.

History of Appearance

To understand the meaning of the "dark horse", you need to know the origin of the phraseological unit. And it appeared a little later than horse racing became popular in Russia, that is, in the 18th century. It was at that time that sweepstakes were invented, and people began to bet. Since ancient times, it was believed that a thoroughbred horse should be white, well, in extreme cases, gray. Black animals were not in value, as mystical significance was attributed to them. It was on this faith that people began to earn money. They bred dark horses, crossing them with thoroughbreds. And if it was not possible to deliver a black animal to the hippodrome, then often the white horses were repainted. They were not allowed to ride at full speed at once in order to lull the vigilance of rivals and raise the stakes. And in the last minutes of the check-in, the riderspurred the horse, and she came first. Soon the audience discovered the deception, and the expression "dark horse" entered into everyday speech already outside the hippodrome context.

Meaning

How can you interpret the concept of "dark horse"? His meaning is - a person who is not as simple as it seems. What can this mean? Dark horses are often called rather modest people who do not behave too actively in the company of friends, they are not inclined to talk about themselves and often seem arrogant from the outside. Since it is not clear to others what to expect from such a person, often such people are bypassed.

The meaning of the phraseologism "dark horse" becomes fully clear if you look at many film stars. They seem so fragile and feminine, but as soon as they enter the image, they appear before you in a completely different role. Is it good? For actors, this is a big plus, because they do not have to play the same characters all their lives.

Applies to whom?

Phraseologism "dark horse", the meaning of which we described above, can often be heard in life. And if for actors and actresses this is more of a compliment, then for ordinary citizens such a description is not considered flattering. Why? Because unpredictability and changeability do not speak in favor of people. There is no need to talk about the meaning of the dark horse.

Each of the readers can remember in his environment a person in whose company everyonebecomes uneasy, goosebumps run straight down the skin. This happens because everyone tenses up and begins to worry. But it should be understood that a person can cause a feeling of awe for two reasons. The first will be respect, and the second, on the contrary, contempt. What are people afraid of? Basically, that a dark horse could somehow ruin their reputation. But in this case, you need to think, because people who are confident in the purity of their intentions, in the justice of their decisions and actions, have nothing to fear. Then you should understand the dark horse not as a person worthy of contempt, but as a catalyst that provokes an explosive reaction.