Dark Idioms and What They Mean
Dark idioms use the word “dark” to express uncertainty, secrecy, low moods, or difficult situations. These expressions help describe moments when things feel unclear, hidden, or emotionally heavy.
In the dark
Not informed; unaware of what’s happening.
Everyone knew about the schedule change except me—I was completely in the dark.
They kept him in the dark about the project until the last minute.
A dark mood
A state of sadness, anger, or negativity.
She was in a dark mood after receiving the bad news.
The whole office felt tense because the boss arrived in a dark mood.
A shot in the dark
A guess made with very little information.
Choosing the right answer was a shot in the dark, but she guessed correctly.
He made a shot in the dark when he tried to guess the password.
Dark days
A period of sadness, difficulty, or crisis.
Losing his job marked the beginning of dark days for the family.
The team went through dark days after a series of losses.
A dark horse
Someone whose abilities are unknown until they suddenly succeed.
The new competitor turned out to be a dark horse and won the entire race.
No one expected her to win the award—she was a dark horse from the beginning.
Go dark
Stop communicating; disappear from contact.
After the meeting, he went dark and didn’t reply to any messages.
The company went dark for months before announcing the new product.
The dark side (of something)
The negative or harmful aspect of something.
The film explores the dark side of fame and success.
They learned the dark side of the deal only after signing it.
Keep someone in the dark
Deliberately not give someone information.
They kept him in the dark about the real reason for the delay.
Don’t keep me in the dark—tell me what’s going on.
Left in the dark
Not informed, forgotten or excluded from information.
She felt left in the dark when no one told her about the event.
We were completely left in the dark about the new changes.
