英和和英

語源

From under- +‎ dog.

発音

名詞

underdog (plural underdogs)

1. A competitor thought unlikely to win.

   They were the underdogs in the basketball competition.

   Synonyms: little guy, rank outsider

   • 2004 August 30, The New Yorker, page 40:

     In Athens, the Americans are underdogs to the Chinese and the Canadians (the Canadians!)

   • 2014 March 9, Jacob Steinberg, “Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals”, in The Guardian:

     The visit of a Championship side would not normally send a shiver down their spine but they knew that Wigan were underdogs who would snap at their heels and that they possessed a potent bite if they were not kept on a firm leash.

2. Somebody at a disadvantage.

   Synonym: bottom dog

   • 1942, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casablanca:

     Laszlo: Isn't it strange that you always happened to be fighting on the side of the underdog?
     Rick: Yes. I found that a very expensive hobby, too. But then I never was much of a businessman.

3. A high swing wherein the person pushing the swing runs beneath the swing while the person being pushed is at the forward limit of the arc.

反意語

• favourite, favorite
• sure bet
• safe bet
• top dog
• shoo-in

参考

• also-ran
• dark horse

アナグラム

• grounded, undergod