People or teams expected to lose or fail, or those in a weaker position compared to others.
Compound from 'under-' (below, inferior) and 'dog.' Originally referred to the losing dog in a dog fight. The term expanded metaphorically to describe anyone in an inferior or disadvantaged position.
Every great sports comeback story is an underdog story—and that's why we love them! The word originally came from brutal dog fights where the losing dog was literally the 'underdog' pinned beneath. Over time it became our favorite metaphor for underprivileged people fighting against the odds. Movies about underdogs are universally loved because humans are hardwired to root for the struggling.
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