also-ran
noun /ˈɔːlsəʊ ræn/
/ˈɔːlsəʊ ræn/
- a person who is not successful, especially in a competition or an election
失败者；（尤指竞赛或竞选的）失利者 - A year ago he was just an also-ran for the Democratic nomination.
一年前，他只是民主党提名的候选人。 - The campaign transformed him from an also-ran in the polls to front-runner.
这场运动使他从民意调查中的失利者变为领先者。
- A year ago he was just an also-ran for the Democratic nomination.