favorite
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favorite daughter
A well-known woman, especially a politician, who is supported and celebrated by people in her hometown. Rose was clearly the favorite daughter of her hometown of Bozeman, Montana.
favorite son
A well-known man, especially a politician, who is supported and celebrated by people in his hometown. Ray was the favorite son of his hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho.
odds-on favorite
The person, car, racehorse most favored to win. (Used almost exclusively in reference to racehorses in the phrase "odds-on favorite.") As usual, Man o' War is the odds-on favorite to win. I'd say no other horse really stands a chance. Who do you think is the odds-on favorite to win the World Cup?
See also: favorite
play favorites
To give preferable treatment to someone or something one likes or favors more than others. The teacher is always playing favorites in class, letting the students she likes go home a little bit earlier than the rest. As a senator, I promise not to play favorites with our public services.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
odds-on favorite
the most popular choice of a wager. Fred is the odds-on favorite for president of the board of trustees.
See also: favorite
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
favorite son
A person valued by his or her hometown or organization for his or her achievements, usually political, as in Mary hoped they would treat her as a favorite son and nominate her for state senator. This term was originally employed for a candidate nominated for office by his own locality. Today this usage may ignore gender, as in the example. [c. 1780]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.