underdog
Meaning
a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.
a person or group of people with less power, money, or status than others in society.
Structure
Usage
the crowd cheered loudly for the underdog, hoping for a surprising victory.
in the classic tale, david was the underdog who defeated the giant goliath.
the company positioned itself as a champion for the underdog, fighting against corporate giants.
Etymology
the term 'underdog' originated in the mid-19th century from the sport of dogfighting. it literally referred to the dog that was overpowered and pinned beneath its winning opponent. this vivid, literal image of a defeated animal was then semantically broadened. it first extended to any contestant in a fight or competition considered least likely to win. finally, the term evolved further into its modern sociological sense, describing any person or group in a position of disadvantage within a social or economic hierarchy, thereby completing its journey from a concrete sporting term to an abstract metaphor for societal status.
Analysis
under (from old english under, meaning "beneath, lower in position or rank"); dog (from old english docga, meaning "a powerful breed of canine").