Idioms are vibrant, expressive phrases that add depth and color to our language, often carrying meanings far beyond their literal words. They allow us to convey complex emotions, situations, or ideas in a way that feels vivid and relatable. Idioms related to darkness, in particular, evoke mystery, uncertainty, or challenges, often painting a picture of situations that are unclear, difficult, or even ominous. For anyone looking to enrich their vocabulary, learning these idioms can be a fascinating way to understand how language captures the essence of the unknown or the hidden. In this article, we’ll explore 55 idioms for darkness, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversations. You’ll also find a practical exercise to help you master these expressions and incorporate them into your speech. Let’s step into the shadowy world of darkness idioms and uncover their secrets!
Idioms for Darkness
1. In the dark
Meaning: To be unaware or uninformed about something.
In a Sentence: Despite working on the project for weeks, I was completely in the dark about the client’s new requirements.
Other Ways to Say: Out of the loop, Clueless
2. Dark horse
Meaning: An unexpected or little-known person who succeeds or surprises.
In a Sentence: Nobody expected Sarah to win the competition, but she turned out to be a real dark horse.
Other Ways to Say: Underdog, Surprise contender
3. Pitch black
Meaning: Completely dark, with no light at all.
In a Sentence: When the power went out during the storm, the house was pitch black, and we couldn’t see a thing.
Other Ways to Say: Totally dark, Black as night
4. Darkest before the dawn
Meaning: Things seem at their worst just before they improve.
In a Sentence: After months of struggling with her studies, she remembered that it’s always darkest before the dawn and kept pushing forward.
Other Ways to Say: Things get worse before they get better, Light at the end of the tunnel
5. Dark cloud hanging over
Meaning: A sense of gloom or trouble overshadowing someone or something.
In a Sentence: Ever since the argument, there’s been a dark cloud hanging over our friendship, making things tense.
Other Ways to Say: Sense of doom, Bad vibe
6. Keep it in the dark
Meaning: To keep something a secret.
In a Sentence: They decided to keep their plans in the dark until everything was finalized to avoid any leaks.
Other Ways to Say: Keep under wraps, Hide it
7. Dark side
Meaning: The negative or hidden aspects of someone’s personality or a situation.
In a Sentence: Even the kindest people have a dark side that comes out under pressure or stress.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden flaws, Shadowy traits
8. Shot in the dark
Meaning: A guess or attempt with little chance of success.
In a Sentence: I didn’t know the answer, so I took a shot in the dark and hoped for the best on the quiz.
Other Ways to Say: Wild guess, Long shot
9. Dark and stormy
Meaning: Describing a gloomy, ominous atmosphere or situation.
In a Sentence: The meeting took place on a dark and stormy night, setting an eerie tone for the discussion.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy and ominous, Foreboding
10. Left in the dark
Meaning: Being excluded from information or updates.
In a Sentence: The team left me in the dark about the project changes, so I felt completely out of place during the presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Kept out of the loop, Ignored
11. Dark pool
Meaning: A hidden or private situation, often in finance or secretive dealings.
In a Sentence: The company’s investments were made through a dark pool, keeping their transactions discreet.
Other Ways to Say: Secret dealings, Hidden operations
12. Blind in the dark
Meaning: Completely unaware and unable to navigate a situation.
In a Sentence: Without any guidance, I felt blind in the dark while trying to solve the complex math problem.
Other Ways to Say: Totally lost, Clueless
13. Dark days
Meaning: A period of difficulty or sadness.
In a Sentence: After losing his job, he went through some dark days but eventually found a new opportunity.
Other Ways to Say: Tough times, Hard times
14. Black as night
Meaning: Extremely dark, with no visible light.
In a Sentence: The forest was black as night, making it impossible to see the path ahead without a flashlight.
Other Ways to Say: Pitch black, Totally dark
15. Dark secret
Meaning: A hidden truth that someone doesn’t want revealed.
In a Sentence: She carried a dark secret about her past that she wasn’t ready to share with anyone.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden truth, Buried secret
16. In the shadows
Meaning: Operating secretly or staying out of sight.
In a Sentence: The organization worked in the shadows, influencing decisions without anyone knowing their true role.
Other Ways to Say: Behind the scenes, Under the radar
17. Dark horse candidate
Meaning: An unexpected or lesser-known person who emerges as a contender.
In a Sentence: Nobody paid attention to the dark horse candidate, but she ended up winning the election by a landslide.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise contender, Underdog
18. Blackout
Meaning: A complete loss of power or information.
In a Sentence: Theалеко
System: 55 Idioms for Darkness (Continued)
18. Blackout
Meaning: A complete loss of power or information.
In a Sentence: The sudden blackout in the city left everyone confused, as no one had any information about what caused it.
Other Ways to Say: Power outage, Information blackout
19. Dark as a dungeon
Meaning: Extremely dark or gloomy, often referring to a confined space.
In a Sentence: The old basement was dark as a dungeon, making it impossible to find anything without a light.
Other Ways to Say: Pitch black, Oppressively dark
20. Cast a dark shadow
Meaning: To create a sense of gloom or negativity over something.
In a Sentence: The news of the budget cuts cast a dark shadow over the team’s plans for the new project.
Other Ways to Say: Bring gloom, Overshadow
21. Dark horse victory
Meaning: An unexpected win by someone or something not considered a favorite.
In a Sentence: The underdog team’s dark horse victory in the championship shocked everyone who had doubted them.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise win, Underdog triumph
22. In the dark about
Meaning: Unaware or uninformed about a specific situation or topic.
In a Sentence: I was completely in the dark about the surprise party my friends were planning for my birthday.
Other Ways to Say: Clueless about, Unaware of
23. Darkest hour
Meaning: The most difficult or challenging moment in a situation.
In a Sentence: Losing her scholarship felt like her darkest hour, but she found a way to continue her education.
Other Ways to Say: Lowest point, Toughest moment
24. Dark underbelly
Meaning: The hidden, unpleasant, or corrupt side of something.
In a Sentence: The glamorous city had a dark underbelly of crime and poverty that tourists rarely saw.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden corruption, Seedy side
25. Groping in the dark
Meaning: Trying to understand or solve something without clear information.
In a Sentence: Without proper instructions, we were groping in the dark trying to assemble the complicated furniture.
Other Ways to Say: Fumbling blindly, Guessing blindly
26. Dark mood
Meaning: A state of being gloomy, sad, or depressed.
In a Sentence: After the argument with her best friend, she was in a dark mood and didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy mood, Somber state
27. Dark waters
Meaning: A dangerous or uncertain situation.
In a Sentence: Entering the unfamiliar business deal felt like navigating dark waters, full of risks and unknowns.
Other Ways to Say: Murky waters, Risky territory
28. Black as pitch
Meaning: Completely dark, with no light whatsoever.
In a Sentence: The cave was black as pitch, and we had to rely on our headlamps to see anything at all.
Other Ways to Say: Pitch black, Totally dark
29. Dark corner
Meaning: A hidden or obscure part of something, often with negative connotations.
In a Sentence: The investigation uncovered a dark corner of the company’s finances that no one had noticed before.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden aspect, Shady area
30. Under a dark cloud
Meaning: Experiencing ongoing trouble or suspicion.
In a Sentence: Ever since the scandal, the politician has been living under a dark cloud of public distrust.
Other Ways to Say: Under suspicion, In trouble
31. Dark horse contender
Meaning: An unexpected competitor who has a chance of winning.
In a Sentence: The small startup was a dark horse contender in the tech industry, surprising everyone with its success.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise competitor, Underdog
32. In the pitch dark
Meaning: In complete darkness, unable to see anything.
In a Sentence: We got lost in the forest and wandered in the pitch dark until we found a trail.
Other Ways to Say: In total darkness, Completely blind
33. Dark thoughts
Meaning: Negative, depressing, or troubling thoughts.
In a Sentence: After failing the exam, she couldn’t shake the dark thoughts about her future.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy thoughts, Pessimistic ideas
34. Dark horse success
Meaning: An unexpected achievement by someone not considered likely to succeed.
In a Sentence: His dark horse success in the talent show stunned everyone who underestimated him.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise success, Unexpected win
35. Dark veil
Meaning: A metaphorical covering that hides or obscures something.
In a Sentence: A dark veil of secrecy surrounded the organization’s true intentions, leaving everyone suspicious.
Other Ways to Say: Cloak of secrecy, Hidden truth
36. Dark outlook
Meaning: A pessimistic or negative view of the future.
In a Sentence: The economic forecast gave a dark outlook for the coming year, worrying investors.
Other Ways to Say: Grim outlook, Bleak perspective
37. Dark horse runner
Meaning: An unexpected participant who performs well in a race or competition.
In a Sentence: The dark horse runner came out of nowhere to take second place in the marathon.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise runner, Underdog competitor
38. Blackout conditions
Meaning: Situations of total darkness or lack of information.
In a Sentence: The storm caused blackout conditions across the town, leaving everyone without power or updates.
Other Ways to Say: Total darkness, Information void
39. Dark mystery
Meaning: Something unknown or difficult to understand.
In a Sentence: The disappearance of the old ship remains a dark mystery that historians are still trying to solve.
Other Ways to Say: Unsolved mystery, Enigmatic puzzle
40. Dark tide
Meaning: A growing sense of trouble or negativity.
In a Sentence: A dark tide of rumors began to spread, threatening to ruin the company’s reputation.
Other Ways to Say: Wave of trouble, Surge of negativity
41. Dark horse team
Meaning: An unexpected team that performs well in a competition.
In a Sentence: The dark horse team shocked everyone by making it to the finals in the tournament.
Other Ways to Say: Underdog team, Surprise contender
42. In the dark of night
Meaning: Happening secretly or during the night.
In a Sentence: The thieves sneaked into the museum in the dark of night to steal the priceless artifact.
Other Ways to Say: Under cover of darkness, At night
43. Dark whispers
Meaning: Secretive or ominous rumors or gossip.
In a Sentence: Dark whispers about the company’s financial troubles began circulating among the employees.
Other Ways to Say: Ominous rumors, Secretive gossip
44. Dark horizon
Meaning: A future that seems uncertain or troubling.
In a Sentence: With the project deadline approaching and no progress, a dark horizon loomed over the team.
Other Ways to Say: Bleak future, Uncertain outlook
45. Dark horse star
Meaning: An unexpected person who rises to fame or success.
In a Sentence: The actor was a dark horse star, going from unknown to award-winner in just one year.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise star, Unexpected talent
46. Dark silence
Meaning: An uncomfortable or ominous lack of communication.
In a Sentence: After the argument, a dark silence filled the room as no one knew what to say.
Other Ways to Say: Tense silence, Heavy quiet
47. Dark horse player
Meaning: An unexpected athlete who excels in a game or sport.
In a Sentence: The dark horse player scored the winning goal, surprising everyone on the opposing team.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise athlete, Underdog star
48. Dark gloom
Meaning: A deep sense of sadness or hopelessness.
In a Sentence: A dark gloom settled over the town after the factory closed, leaving many jobless.
Other Ways to Say: Deep sadness, Heavy despair
49. Dark horse pick
Meaning: An unexpected choice for a role or position.
In a Sentence: The director’s dark horse pick for the lead role turned out to be a brilliant decision.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise choice, Unlikely selection
50. Dark veil of secrecy
Meaning: A hidden or secretive situation that obscures the truth.
In a Sentence: The project was shrouded in a dark veil of secrecy, leaving even the team members curious.
Other Ways to Say: Cloak of mystery, Hidden agenda
51. Dark storm brewing
Meaning: A sense that trouble or conflict is coming.
In a Sentence: With tensions rising between the two groups, you could feel a dark storm brewing.
Other Ways to Say: Trouble brewing, Conflict looming
52. Dark horse talent
Meaning: An unexpected person with surprising skill or ability.
In a Sentence: The quiet student turned out to be a dark horse talent in the school’s art competition.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden talent, Surprise skill
53. Dark pall
Meaning: A heavy atmosphere of gloom or sadness.
In a Sentence: A dark pall hung over the community after the tragic news spread through the town.
Other Ways to Say: Heavy gloom, Somber mood
54. Dark horse performer
Meaning: An unexpected individual who excels in a performance.
In a Sentence: The dark horse performer stole the show with an unforgettable dance routine.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise performer, Underdog star
55. Dark curtain
Meaning: A metaphorical barrier hiding something from view.
In a Sentence: A dark curtain of misinformation kept the truth about the incident from the public.
Other Ways to Say: Veil of secrecy, Hidden truth
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- Nobody knew about the new policy changes, so we were all _______ in the dark.
- The small company was a _______ horse in the industry, surprising everyone with its rapid growth.
- The power outage left the entire neighborhood in _______ black conditions, unable to see anything.
- Even in her _______ hour, she found the strength to keep going and passed the final exam.
- The rumors about the scandal cast a _______ cloud over the organization’s reputation.
- I took a _______ in the dark when answering the tricky question, hoping I’d get it right.
- The abandoned house was as _______ as a dungeon, making it creepy to explore without a flashlight.
- The team was _______ in the shadows, working quietly to avoid drawing attention to their plans.
- The economic downturn created a _______ outlook for small businesses in the area.
- A _______ storm was brewing as the two rival teams prepared for their big match.
- The new singer was a _______ horse star, rising to fame after a single viral performance.
- A _______ silence fell over the room after the heated debate ended abruptly.
Answers:
in, dark, pitch, darkest, dark, shot, dark, working, dark, dark, dark, dark
Conclusion
Idioms for darkness add a rich layer of expression to our language, capturing the nuances of uncertainty, secrecy, and challenge in vivid ways. These phrases allow you to describe complex situations with creativity and flair, making your communication more engaging and impactful. By practicing these idioms, you can enhance your ability to express yourself in conversations, writing, or even storytelling. Keep exploring these phrases in real-life scenarios—whether in casual chats with friends or in more formal settings like essays or presentations. Over time, these idioms will become a natural part of your vocabulary, helping you navigate the shadowy corners of language with confidence and ease.