Idioms are dynamic, figurative expressions that infuse conversations with energy and vividness, making discussions about running—whether literal or metaphorical—more engaging and spirited. When describing the act of running, whether it’s sprinting on a track, fleeing from danger, or metaphorically rushing toward a goal, idioms provide a lively way to capture the motion, effort, or urgency involved. In this comprehensive listicle, we’ll explore 50 idioms related to running, unpack their meanings, and illustrate how they can add a burst of momentum to your conversations about speed, effort, and pursuit. So, let’s hit the ground running and dive into this collection of idiomatic expressions to see how they can race through your language with flair.
What is an Idiom for Running?
Idioms for running are figurative phrases that use metaphorical language to describe the act of running, moving quickly, or pursuing something with haste, whether physically or figuratively. These expressions often draw from imagery of speed, competition, or escape to convey the intensity, urgency, or determination associated with running in a memorable way. Whether you’re talking about a marathon, a quick getaway, or a metaphorical dash toward success, these idioms can make your language more vibrant and relatable. Below, we’ll explore each idiom, clarify its meaning, and provide a long sentence to demonstrate its use in the context of running.
Idioms for Running
1. Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: To start something quickly and energetically, often with immediate success.
In a Sentence: When she joined the new project team, she hit the ground running, immediately diving into tasks and proposing innovative ideas that propelled the group forward.
2. Run Like the Wind
Meaning: To move extremely fast, as if carried by the wind.
In a Sentence: During the championship race, he ran like the wind, his legs blurring as he surged past competitors to claim the gold medal with a record-breaking time.
3. Run Rings Around
Meaning: To outperform or outmaneuver someone easily.
In a Sentence: In the debate, she ran rings around her opponent, her quick wit and sharp arguments leaving them struggling to keep up with her intellectual pace.
4. Run for Your Life
Meaning: To flee quickly to escape danger or harm.
In a Sentence: When the wildfire roared closer, they ran for their lives, sprinting through the forest with hearts pounding as they sought safety from the encroaching flames.
5. Run the Show
Meaning: To be in charge or control of a situation or event.
In a Sentence: As the event organizer, she ran the show, coordinating every detail from the marathon’s starting line to the victory ceremony with flawless precision.
6. Run Out of Steam
Meaning: To lose energy or momentum, slowing down or stopping.
In a Sentence: Halfway through the ultramarathon, he ran out of steam, his legs heavy as the grueling miles sapped his strength, forcing him to walk briefly.
7. Run in Circles
Meaning: To be busy but achieve little, often due to lack of progress.
In a Sentence: Trying to solve the complex problem, the team ran in circles, their frantic efforts yielding no results until they paused to strategize more effectively.
8. Run a Tight Ship
Meaning: To manage something strictly and efficiently.
In a Sentence: The coach ran a tight ship, ensuring every runner followed a disciplined training regimen that led the team to dominate the regional championships.
9. Run the Gauntlet
Meaning: To endure a series of challenges or criticisms.
In a Sentence: To secure the promotion, she had to run the gauntlet of tough interviews, each one testing her skills and resilience as she raced toward her career goal.
10. Run Wild
Meaning: To act freely or uncontrollably, often with energy or chaos.
In a Sentence: During the festival, the children ran wild, dashing through the fields and laughing as they chased each other without a care in the world.
11. Run Amok
Meaning: To behave in a wild, uncontrolled, or disruptive manner.
In a Sentence: When the concert ended, fans ran amok, rushing the stage in a frenzied dash to get closer to the performers before security intervened.
12. Run Off Your Feet
Meaning: To be extremely busy or overworked, constantly moving.
In a Sentence: During the holiday rush, the store staff were run off their feet, darting between customers and shelves to keep up with the relentless pace.
13. Run Into the Ground
Meaning: To exhaust or overuse something or someone until it fails.
In a Sentence: He ran his body into the ground with relentless training, ignoring rest until injuries forced him to pause his running career and recover.
14. Run Like Clockwork
Meaning: To operate smoothly and efficiently, with perfect timing.
In a Sentence: The marathon was organized so well that it ran like clockwork, with runners starting on time and every checkpoint seamlessly guiding them to the finish.
15. Run the Risk
Meaning: To take a chance that something negative might happen.
In a Sentence: By pushing his limits in the race, he ran the risk of injury, but his bold sprint in the final lap earned him a podium finish.
16. Run Scared
Meaning: To act out of fear or panic, often fleeing from a threat.
In a Sentence: When the scandal broke, the corrupt officials ran scared, scrambling to cover their tracks as investigators closed in with relentless pursuit.
17. Run Riot
Meaning: To behave wildly or without restraint.
In a Sentence: At the victory celebration, the fans ran riot, rushing through the streets with cheers and flags, their joy uncontainable after the team’s triumph.
18. Run on Empty
Meaning: To continue despite being exhausted or lacking resources.
In a Sentence: After weeks of intense training, she was running on empty, yet she pushed through the final race with sheer willpower to cross the finish line.
19. Run a Mile
Meaning: To avoid something or someone out of fear or dislike.
In a Sentence: When he heard about the grueling hill sprint workout, he wanted to run a mile, dreading the challenge but knowing it would improve his stamina.
20. Run the Bases
Meaning: To complete a sequence of steps or tasks, often quickly.
In a Sentence: She ran the bases of the project, swiftly moving from planning to execution, ensuring every phase was completed before the tight deadline.
21. Run After
Meaning: To chase or pursue someone or something.
In a Sentence: Determined to catch the thief, the security guard ran after him, sprinting through crowded streets in a relentless pursuit to recover the stolen goods.
22. Run Against the Wind
Meaning: To face difficult opposition or challenges while moving forward.
In a Sentence: Starting her business in a tough economy, she ran against the wind, overcoming obstacles with grit to build a thriving company from scratch.
23. Run Down the Clock
Meaning: To deliberately delay or use up time to avoid action.
In a Sentence: In the final moments of the race, he ran down the clock, pacing himself strategically to maintain his lead without exhausting his reserves.
24. Run in the Family
Meaning: A trait or talent that is common among family members.
In a Sentence: Her speed on the track seemed to run in the family, as her siblings and parents were all accomplished runners who dominated local races.
25. Run Out of Gas
Meaning: To lose energy or motivation, slowing down or stopping.
In a Sentence: Midway through the marathon, he ran out of gas, his legs faltering as the long distance drained his energy, forcing him to walk briefly.
26. Run Hot and Cold
Meaning: To be inconsistent or unpredictable in behavior or performance.
In a Sentence: His training sessions ran hot and cold, some days sprinting with unstoppable energy and others struggling to maintain even a steady jog.
27. Run a Fever
Meaning: To have a high body temperature, often affecting performance.
In a Sentence: Despite running a fever, she pushed through the cross-country race, her determination carrying her across the finish line before collapsing in exhaustion.
28. Run at the Mouth
Meaning: To talk excessively or without restraint.
In a Sentence: Before the race, he ran at the mouth, boasting about his speed until his teammates urged him to save his energy for the track instead.
29. Run Over
Meaning: To overwhelm or exceed limits, often in a rush.
In a Sentence: The event preparations ran over, with organizers rushing to set up the course as the influx of runners arrived earlier than expected.
30. Run Through
Meaning: To use up or exhaust something quickly, often resources or energy.
In a Sentence: She ran through her stamina in the first half of the race, sprinting too aggressively and struggling to maintain her pace in the final miles.
31. Run Up the Score
Meaning: To achieve an overwhelming advantage or success.
In a Sentence: In the relay, their team ran up the score, each runner blazing through their leg to secure a lead so large that victory was assured.
32. Run Away with
Meaning: To win easily or dominate a competition.
In a Sentence: She ran away with the championship, her speed and endurance so superior that she crossed the finish line well ahead of her closest rival.
33. Run Around Like a Headless Chicken
Meaning: To act frantically or chaotically without direction.
In a Sentence: On race day, the volunteers ran around like headless chickens, scrambling to organize bibs and water stations as the runners began to arrive.
34. Run the Gamut
Meaning: To cover a wide range of experiences or emotions.
In a Sentence: Her running career ran the gamut, from triumphant victories and personal bests to painful injuries and moments of self-doubt that tested her resolve.
35. Run on Fumes
Meaning: To continue with minimal energy or resources.
In a Sentence: After hours of racing, she was running on fumes, her body exhausted but her spirit driving her to cross the finish line with a final burst.
36. Run a Red Light
Meaning: To act recklessly or ignore rules, often in haste.
In a Sentence: In his eagerness to catch the leader, he ran a red light metaphorically, ignoring the coach’s pacing strategy and risking burnout before the race’s end.
37. Run Down
Meaning: To exhaust or weaken someone or something through overuse.
In a Sentence: The constant races ran her down, her body pleading for rest as the relentless schedule left her fatigued and prone to minor injuries.
38. Run Past
Meaning: To discuss or review something quickly, often in a rush.
In a Sentence: Before the race, the coach ran past the strategy with the team, quickly outlining key tactics to ensure they were prepared for the competition.
39. Run Interference
Meaning: To protect or clear the way for someone by removing obstacles.
In a Sentence: Her teammates ran interference during the relay, pacing themselves to shield her from competitors and give her a clear shot at the lead.
40. Run Its Course
Meaning: To continue until naturally completed or exhausted.
In a Sentence: Her passion for competitive running ran its course after years of races, leading her to shift to casual jogs for enjoyment rather than trophies.
41. Run Smoothly
Meaning: To proceed without problems or interruptions.
In a Sentence: The charity run ran smoothly, with hundreds of participants dashing through the course under clear skies and well-coordinated volunteer support.
42. Run Neck and Neck
Meaning: To be very close in a competition, with little difference in position.
In a Sentence: In the final lap, the two runners ran neck and neck, their strides perfectly matched as the crowd roared, anticipating a photo-finish ending.
43. Run Rampant
Meaning: To spread or act uncontrollably, often chaotically.
In a Sentence: During the fun run, excitement ran rampant, with participants sprinting, laughing, and weaving through the course in a joyful, chaotic blur.
44. Run to Seed
Meaning: To decline or deteriorate due to neglect or overexertion.
In a Sentence: Without proper recovery, his running performance ran to seed, his once-impressive times slowing as fatigue and injuries took their toll.
45. Run the Table
Meaning: To dominate or win everything in a series of competitions.
In a Sentence: She ran the table at the track meet, winning every event she entered and earning the title of the season’s most outstanding athlete.
46. Run on Adrenaline
Meaning: To continue with energy driven by excitement or stress.
In a Sentence: In the final sprint, she ran on adrenaline, the thrill of the cheering crowd fueling her to push past exhaustion and claim victory.
47. Run a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Meaning: To approach something with patience and endurance, not haste.
In a Sentence: Building her career, she ran a marathon, not a sprint, steadily working toward success with long-term goals rather than seeking instant fame.
48. Run Out the Clock
Meaning: To use up time deliberately to secure an advantage.
In a Sentence: In the race’s final moments, he ran out the clock, slowing his pace slightly to maintain his lead without risking a last-second overtake.
49. Run With It
Meaning: To take an idea or opportunity and pursue it fully.
In a Sentence: Given the chance to lead the running club, she ran with it, organizing races and training sessions that boosted membership and enthusiasm.
50. Run the Extra Mile
Meaning: To make additional effort beyond what is required.
In a Sentence: To improve her time, she ran the extra mile in training, dedicating early mornings to sprints and strength exercises that gave her a competitive edge.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Hit the Ground Running
What does the idiom “Hit the ground running” mean?
a) To start slowly
b) To begin quickly and energetically
c) To avoid starting
d) To fail immediately
Quiz 2: Run Like the Wind
What is the meaning of “Run like the wind”?
a) To move slowly
b) To move extremely fast
c) To stop suddenly
d) To run cautiously
Quiz 3: Run Rings Around
When someone “runs rings around” another, what are they doing?
a) Losing to them
b) Outperforming them easily
c) Collaborating with them
d) Avoiding them
Quiz 4: Run for Your Life
What does the idiom “Run for your life” suggest?
a) To exercise casually
b) To flee from danger
c) To compete in a race
d) To relax quickly
Quiz 5: Run Out of Steam
What situation is described by the idiom “Run out of steam”?
a) Gaining energy
b) Losing energy or momentum
c) Starting a task
d) Winning a race
Quiz 6: Run in Circles
If someone is “running in circles,” what are they doing?
a) Achieving great progress
b) Being busy but unproductive
c) Running a race
d) Planning carefully
Quiz 7: Run a Tight Ship
What does the expression “Run a tight ship” imply?
a) Managing loosely
b) Managing strictly and efficiently
c) Avoiding responsibility
d) Failing to organize
Quiz 8: Run the Gauntlet
When is it appropriate to say “Run the gauntlet”?
a) When relaxing
b) When facing multiple challenges
c) When succeeding easily
d) When avoiding effort
Quiz 9: Run Wild
What is the meaning of “Run wild”?
a) Acting with restraint
b) Acting freely or uncontrollably
c) Staying calm
d) Following rules
Quiz 10: Run the Extra Mile
When someone “runs the extra mile,” what are they doing?
a) Giving minimal effort
b) Making additional effort
c) Avoiding work
d) Finishing quickly
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for running are like bursts of speed in the language, propelling conversations with energy, urgency, and vivid imagery that capture the essence of motion and pursuit. Whether you’re describing a literal sprint, a frantic escape, or a metaphorical race toward a goal, these 50 idioms offer a dynamic and engaging way to convey the thrill and effort of running. By weaving these expressions into your discussions, you can add vitality, humor, and relatability, making your stories about speed and striving more captivating and memorable. So, the next time you talk about running or chasing dreams, sprinkle in these idioms to keep your words racing ahead with unstoppable momentum.