Underdog

Pronunciation

Origin

From under + dog.

Full definition of underdog

Noun

1. A competitor thought unlikely to win.
• 2004: The New Yorker, 30 August 2004, p.40In Athens, the Americans are underdogs to the Chinese and the Canadians the Canadians!
• 2014, Jacob Steinberg, "Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals", The Guardian, 9 March 2014: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.
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.

Antonyms

• favourite, favorite
• sure bet
• safe bet
• top dog

Anagrams

• grounded
• undergod