Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Dark horse

An unexpected winner

The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "dark horse" is >An unexpected winner.<

This idiom is used to describe someone who is not expected to win a competition or contest, but who does so unexpectedly. The term is often used in horse racing, where a dark horse is a horse that is not well-known or has not been doing well in previous races. However, the term can be used in any context where someone is not expected to succeed, but does so anyway.

For example, you might say that a political candidate is a dark horse if they are not well-known or have not been polling well, but who has a chance of winning the election.

The other options are not correct.

• A person criticized does not mean dark horse.
• A loved person does not mean dark horse.
• A champion does not mean dark horse.