Find more facts and information on our topic page about
dark horse
horse
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
|
2006
|
|
© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
horse the horse, used for riding, racing, and to carry and pull loads, is taken as a type of strength. (See also
horses.)
horse chestnut the fruit of this tree is said to have been an Eastern remedy for chest diseases in horses, and the name (recorded from the late 16th century) translates (now obsolete) botanical Latin
Castanea equina.
Horse Guards in the UK, the mounted squadrons provided from the Household Cavalry for ceremonial duties.
horse latitudes a belt of calm air and sea occurring in both the northern and southern hemispheres between the trade winds and the westerlies.
Horse-marines a name for the 17th Lancers, two troops of whom were once employed as marines during fighting in the West Indies (see also,
tell that to the horse marines).
you can take a horse to water but you cannot make him drink even if you create the right circumstances, you cannot persuade someone to do something against their will; proverbial saying recorded from the late 12th century.
See also
back the wrong horse,
put the cart before the horse,
dark horse,
never look a gift horse in the mouth,
a good horse cannot be of a bad colour,
horses,
straight from the horse's mouth.
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
 "Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)")
|
Top dogs, dark horses in high school playoffs; James Allen's pre-bracket teams to watch.(Sports)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 2/13/2008; 700+ words
; ...Guilderland (17-2) Dark horses: Bethlehem...Schuylerville (14-6) Dark horses: Broadalbin-Perth...Mechanicville (14-5) Dark horse: Berne-Knox (13...Watervliet (11-6) Dark horses: Berne-Knox (14...Whitehall (12-6) Dark horse: Germantown (11-6...Hartford ...
|
 "The Racing Post (London, England)")
|
KING OF THE DARK HORSE; BETTING MASTERCLASS All this week, we'll be talking to some of the shrewdest professional punters and analysts in Britain to find out how they make racing pay. Here, David Ashforth talks to Marten Julian, whose experience spans almost four decades.(Sports)
Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 1/19/2009; 700+ words
; ...publications and services. The Dark Horses Annual, the National...I tipped less than a dozen horses a year. I'd send a letter...look for certain qualities in horses, particularly courage, a...in turn. I was finding dark horses and, lying in the bath one...expression - 'he's a ...
|
|
Chase is on for Johnson ; Top seed eyes dark horses, too
Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 9/13/2007; ; 700+ words
; ...But whom does Johnson regard as a dark horse? Johnson seemed momentarily stumped...I don't know who you'd call a dark horse," Johnson said. What, then, what was his definition of a dark horse? "Yeah, that's the thing...
|
 "Daily News (Jacksonville, NC)")
|
Clinton out to repeat Mallard finds contentment with Dark Horses.
Newspaper article from: Daily News (Jacksonville, NC); 12/5/2006; 700+ words
; ...landed the defending state champion Dark Horses back in the state championship game...This will mark the ninth time the Dark Horses have played in a state title...Another two-game skid had the Dark Horses standing at 3-5 with three...
|
|
|
Bruce Millington: Steer clear of dark horses and Germans.(Sports)
Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 6/1/2000; ; 696 words
; ...searching, we have a dark horse for Euro 2000. It...as the legendary dark horses of recent major tournaments...the record of past dark horses is anything to go by. The great dark horses of the 1990s were Colombia...wait ages for the dark horse to show ...
|
|
The Dark Horses
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 1/29/1999; 371 words
; ...characterizing Mr. Smith as "the darkest horse in the race," however, Mr...State. Pierce was very much a dark-horse nominee, virtually a political...vote. Other presidential dark horses were James K. Polk (nominated...The political term "dark horse" derives from British ...
|
|
COMMENTARY: Oscar's dark horses could take the lead
News Wire article from: University Wire; 2/21/2007; ; 700+ words
; ...its cinematic worth -- the dark horse. Dark horse nominations...have a chance to win. Dark horse candidates are fairly common...at the top prize. The dark horse candidate for best picture...festival roots. Another dark horse for this year's Academy ...
|
|
REVIEW:Dark Horses and Black Beauties.
Newspaper article from: M2 Best Books; 7/29/2002; ; 595 words
; ...2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Dark Horses and Black Beauties by Melissa...the bond between women and horses, and the way the rest of the...from children's 'I want a horse' phase to an adult's realisation...punctuated with pictures of horses - child on horse, Victorian...
|
|
|
Eason: Dark Horses better than record shows.
Newspaper article from: Daily News (Jacksonville, NC); 9/27/2007; 700+ words
; ...Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Dark Horse Stadium. Eason is well aware that the Dark Horses own what appears to be a bad record at 2...Kenan and East Bladen. But come November the Dark Horses have been vying for the NCHSAA championship...
|
|
It's anyone's game - 'Shakespeare,' 'Ryan' seem like safe bets, but dark horses may upset Oscar race.
Newspaper article from: The Boston Herald; 2/7/1999; ; 700+ words
; ...our predictions, with some dark horses and wild cards thrown in for...Show," "Elizabeth." Dark horses: "Gods and Monsters...A Civil Action"). Dark horses: Joseph Fiennes ("Shakespeare...Hilary and Jackie"). Dark horse: Jane Horrocks ("Little...
|
|
Dark Horse
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History
DARK HORSE DARK HORSE, a compromise candidate selected...Polk became the first dark horse presidential candidate when...Pierce followed in the dark horse tradition. Other more recent examples of dark horses include James A. Garfield...
|
|
dark horse
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
dark horse in U.S. politics, a person unexpectedly...especially for the presidency. A presidential dark horse is usually chosen at a party national...Probably the best-known example of a dark horse is James K. Polk, who was selected...
|
|
dark
Book article from: The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
...the Dark Continent (1878). dark horse a person about whom little...originally racing slang, denoting a horse about whose racing powers little...for the poem Noche oscura [Dark night]. The expression was...at cat , cold dark matter , darkest , a leap in the dark , a ...
|
|
|
horse
Book article from: The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
...century. See also back the wrong horse , put the cart before the horse , dark horse , never look a gift horse in the mouth , a good horse cannot be of a bad colour , horses , straight from the horse's mouth .
|
|
|
pinto horse
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
pinto horse American light horse , characterized by large...most commonly black (or dark) and white. Horses of this pattern, known...coloring may occur in various horses, a pinto breed has been...general-purpose riding horse.
|
