You’re a fast-talker, but does your vocabulary keep up? Using the same word for speed can make your conversations feel like a marathon with no finish line. Don’t just talk about speed—master it.
This article is your personal trainer for a more agile vocabulary. We’re sprinting through essential Idioms for Running, the phrases that add power and momentum to your speech. It’s time to stop just talking and start flying with your words.
Idioms for Running
1. In the Long Run
Meaning: Over a long period, considering the final outcome.
In a Sentence:
In the long run, consistent running improves health.
Her training paid off in the long run for the race.
Other Ways to Say: Over time, In the end, Long-term
2. Dry Run
Meaning: A practice or rehearsal to test something before the real event.
In a Sentence:
They did a dry run of the marathon route.
The team held a dry run to prepare for the relay.
Other Ways to Say: Trial run, Practice, Test run
3. Make Someone’s Blood Run Cold
Meaning: To cause fear or shock, like a chill running through you.
In a Sentence:
The news made her blood run cold before the race.
His injury made their blood run cold during the run.
Other Ways to Say: Chill to the bone, Terrify, Shock deeply
4. On the Run
Meaning: Fleeing or moving quickly to avoid capture or trouble.
In a Sentence:
He’s been on the run since skipping practice.
She’s on the run, dodging responsibilities.
Other Ways to Say: Fleeing, Escaping, On the move
5. Run a Fever
Meaning: To have an elevated body temperature due to illness.
In a Sentence:
She’s running a fever and can’t join the race.
He ran a fever after running in the cold rain.
Other Ways to Say: Have a fever, Be feverish, Feel unwell
6. Run a Tight Ship
Meaning: To manage something strictly and efficiently.
In a Sentence:
The coach runs a tight ship for the running team.
She runs a tight ship, ensuring runners train hard.
Other Ways to Say: Manage strictly, Keep order, Run efficiently
7. Run Circles Around
Meaning: To outperform or outpace someone significantly.
In a Sentence:
She runs circles around her competitors in races.
He ran circles around the others in the sprint.
Other Ways to Say: Outshine, Outdo, Surpass easily
8. Run For It
Meaning: To flee or escape quickly by running.
In a Sentence:
When the storm hit, they had to run for it.
Run for it before the race starts without you!
Other Ways to Say: Dash away, Bolt, Make a break for it
9. Run In
Meaning: To encounter or meet someone unexpectedly.
In a Sentence:
She ran into her old coach while running in the park.
He ran into a friend during his morning run.
Other Ways to Say: Bump into, Meet by chance, Come across
10. Cut and Run
Meaning: To leave quickly to avoid trouble or responsibility.
In a Sentence:
He cut and ran when the training got tough.
She didn’t cut and run despite the hard run.
Other Ways to Say: Flee, Bail out, Escape quickly
11. Eat and Run
Meaning: To leave quickly after eating, often in a rush.
In a Sentence:
He had to eat and run to make the race on time.
She ate and ran to join the running group.
Other Ways to Say: Grab and go, Quick meal, Rush off
12. Run Around Like a Headless Chicken
Meaning: To act frantically or without direction.
In a Sentence:
She’s running around like a headless chicken before the race.
He ran around like a headless chicken, unprepared.
Other Ways to Say: Panic, Act chaotically, Rush aimlessly
13. Run Errands
Meaning: To perform small tasks or chores, often involving movement.
In a Sentence:
She ran errands before her evening run.
He’s running errands instead of training today.
Other Ways to Say: Do chores, Handle tasks, Run about
14. Run Like Clockwork
Meaning: To operate smoothly and predictably, like a well-timed run.
In a Sentence:
The marathon was run like clockwork, perfectly organized.
Her training schedule runs like clockwork.
Other Ways to Say: Smoothly run, Well-organized, Flawlessly executed
15. Running on Empty
Meaning: Exhausted or lacking energy, like a car out of fuel.
In a Sentence:
She’s running on empty after the long race.
He was running on empty during the final lap.
Other Ways to Say: Out of steam, Exhausted, Drained
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Support That Hold You Up in Life
16. A Run for Your Money
Meaning: A challenging competition or close contest.
In a Sentence:
She gave him a run for his money in the sprint.
The race was tough, but he gave a run for his money.
Other Ways to Say: Tough competition, Close race, Strong challenge
17. A Running Start
Meaning: An initial advantage or momentum in a task or race.
In a Sentence:
She got a running start in the competition.
He had a running start with his early training.
Other Ways to Say: Head start, Early advantage, Initial boost
18. Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: To start something quickly and effectively.
In a Sentence:
She hit the ground running with her new training plan.
He hit the ground running in the relay race.
Other Ways to Say: Start strong, Dive right in, Begin quickly
19. Run a Risk
Meaning: To take a chance that could lead to negative consequences.
In a Sentence:
He ran a risk by running without warming up.
She ran a risk skipping her recovery days.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Gamble, Risk it
20. Run About
Meaning: To move around busily or aimlessly.
In a Sentence:
The kids were running about before the race.
She ran about, preparing for the running event.
Other Ways to Say: Dash around, Move busily, Scamper
21. Run Along
Meaning: To leave or go away, often playfully or dismissively.
In a Sentence:
Run along now, it’s time for the race to start.
He told the kids to run along and join the run.
Other Ways to Say: Go on, Hurry off, Move along
22. Run Amok
Meaning: To behave wildly or uncontrollably.
In a Sentence:
The runners ran amok after the chaotic start.
He ran amok, ignoring the race rules.
Other Ways to Say: Go wild, Act recklessly, Lose control
23. Run into Trouble
Meaning: To encounter problems or difficulties.
In a Sentence:
She ran into trouble during the muddy race.
He ran into trouble with his running injury.
Other Ways to Say: Hit a snag, Face problems, Encounter issues
24. Run of the Mill
Meaning: Ordinary or average, nothing special.
In a Sentence:
It was a run-of-the-mill race, nothing exciting.
Her running performance was run-of-the-mill this time.
Other Ways to Say: Ordinary, Average, Nothing special
25. Run the Show
Meaning: To be in charge or control of an event or situation.
In a Sentence:
She runs the show for the running club.
He ran the show during the marathon planning.
Other Ways to Say: Call the shots, Be in charge, Lead the way
26. Run Out of Steam
Meaning: To lose energy or momentum, like tiring during a run.
In a Sentence:
He ran out of steam halfway through the race.
She ran out of steam after running for hours.
Other Ways to Say: Lose energy, Get tired, Burn out
27. Run Like the Wind
Meaning: To run very quickly or effortlessly.
In a Sentence:
She runs like the wind in every race.
He ran like the wind to win the sprint.
Other Ways to Say: Run fast, Speed along, Dash swiftly
28. Run the Gauntlet
Meaning: To face a series of challenges or criticisms.
In a Sentence:
She ran the gauntlet of tough training sessions.
He ran the gauntlet to qualify for the race.
Other Ways to Say: Face challenges, Endure trials, Go through hardship
29. Run Riot
Meaning: To behave wildly or without restraint.
In a Sentence:
The fans ran riot after the running victory.
Her energy ran riot during the fun run.
Other Ways to Say: Go wild, Act uncontrollably, Run amok
30. Run the Risk
Meaning: To expose oneself to danger or negative outcomes.
In a Sentence:
He ran the risk of injury by overtraining.
She ran the risk of missing the race deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Risk it, Gamble
31. Run Smoothly
Meaning: To proceed without problems or interruptions.
In a Sentence:
The race ran smoothly with no issues.
Her training plan is running smoothly this season.
Other Ways to Say: Go well, Operate flawlessly, Flow easily
32. Run Your Mouth
Meaning: To talk excessively or boastfully.
In a Sentence:
He ran his mouth about his running speed.
She’s running her mouth instead of training.
Other Ways to Say: Talk too much, Boast, Blabber
33. Run in the Family
Meaning: A trait or ability common among family members.
In a Sentence:
Running fast runs in the family for her.
His stamina for running runs in the family.
Other Ways to Say: Hereditary, Family trait, In the genes
34. Run Off at the Mouth
Meaning: To talk excessively or without thinking.
In a Sentence:
He ran off at the mouth about his race plans.
She ran off at the mouth, distracting the runners.
Other Ways to Say: Talk endlessly, Babble, Run your mouth
35. Run a Mile
Meaning: To avoid something out of fear or dislike.
In a Sentence:
She’d run a mile from early morning runs.
He ran a mile when asked to join the race.
Other Ways to Say: Avoid, Steer clear, Flee from
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Free to Unlock Expressive Power
36. Run the Numbers
Meaning: To calculate or analyze data, often related to performance.
In a Sentence:
They ran the numbers to track running times.
She ran the numbers to improve her race strategy.
Other Ways to Say: Crunch numbers, Analyze data, Calculate
37. Run on Fumes
Meaning: To continue with very little energy or resources.
In a Sentence:
He’s running on fumes after the long race.
She was running on fumes during the final lap.
Other Ways to Say: Barely going, Out of energy, Running on empty
38. Run Wild
Meaning: To act without restraint or control, like running freely.
In a Sentence:
The kids ran wild after the fun run.
Her imagination runs wild when planning races.
Other Ways to Say: Go crazy, Act freely, Run amok
39. Run to Ground
Meaning: To track down or find after effort.
In a Sentence:
She ran the solution to ground for her running issue.
He ran the problem to ground after much effort.
Other Ways to Say: Track down, Find out, Discover
40. Run Its Course
Meaning: To continue until naturally completed or exhausted.
In a Sentence:
The injury ran its course, and she’s running again.
His cold ran its course before the race.
Other Ways to Say: Play out, Finish naturally, End on its own
41. Run Hot and Cold
Meaning: To be inconsistent or unpredictable in performance.
In a Sentence:
Her running performance runs hot and cold.
He runs hot and cold in his training sessions.
Other Ways to Say: Be inconsistent, Up and down, Unpredictable
42. Run the Table
Meaning: To win or succeed in all parts of a competition.
In a Sentence:
She ran the table in the regional running events.
He’s aiming to run the table in the races.
Other Ways to Say: Sweep the competition, Win everything, Dominate
43. Run Interference
Meaning: To intervene or help by removing obstacles.
In a Sentence:
Her coach ran interference to secure her race spot.
He ran interference for the running team’s schedule.
Other Ways to Say: Clear the way, Assist, Remove obstacles
44. Run Down
Meaning: To become tired or depleted, often from running or effort.
In a Sentence:
She felt run down after the marathon.
He’s run down from training too hard.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Worn out, Drained
45. Run a Red Light
Meaning: To act recklessly or break rules, metaphorically.
In a Sentence:
He ran a red light by skipping his warm-up run.
She ran a red light, ignoring the coach’s advice.
Other Ways to Say: Break rules, Act recklessly, Ignore guidelines
46. Run Ragged
Meaning: To be exhausted from excessive activity or running.
In a Sentence:
The race ran her ragged by the end.
He’s been run ragged from constant training.
Other Ways to Say: Worn out, Exhausted, Overworked
47. Run the Clock
Meaning: To use up time deliberately, often to maintain an advantage.
In a Sentence:
She ran the clock during the race to secure her lead.
He’s running the clock to pace his training.
Other Ways to Say: Kill time, Manage the pace, Stall strategically
48. Run a Lap
Meaning: To complete a single circuit or loop, often in running.
In a Sentence:
She ran a lap to warm up for the race.
He runs a lap daily to stay in shape.
Other Ways to Say: Do a circuit, Complete a loop, Run a round
49. Run on All Cylinders
Meaning: To perform at full capacity or energy.
In a Sentence:
She’s running on all cylinders in her training.
He ran on all cylinders to win the race.
Other Ways to Say: At full speed, Full throttle, Peak performance
50. Run Like a Well-Oiled Machine
Meaning: To function smoothly and efficiently, like a perfect run.
In a Sentence:
The running team runs like a well-oiled machine.
Her training schedule runs like a well-oiled machine.
Other Ways to Say: Operate smoothly, Work perfectly, Run like clockwork
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Running
- He’s a great leader; he always _________________________ and gets the team to the finish line.
- After weeks of intense training, she felt like she was _________________________ during the final miles of the marathon.
- The news of the sudden downpour before the race was enough to _________________________ of every participant.
- She’s incredibly competitive and will always _________________________ with her rivals to win the race.
- He was so disorganized that he was _________________________ all morning, trying to find his running shoes.
- The marathon was so well-organized that everything _________________________ from start to finish.
- He’s a very fast runner; he can _________________________ the other runners in the sprint.
- I had to _________________________ when the race started because I wasn’t at the starting line on time.
- He’s been training for years, and he knows that _________________________, all his hard work will pay off.
- The athlete was feeling a little _________________________ and decided to skip practice to rest.
Answer Key
- runs a tight ship
- running on empty
- make the blood run cold
- give a run for their money
- running around like a headless chicken
- ran like clockwork
- run circles around
- run for it
- in the long run
- run down
Conclusion
You no longer have to just talk about speed—you can embody it. The Idioms for Running you’ve mastered give your conversations the power of a full sprint, allowing you to get your point across with energy and impact. These aren’t just phrases; they’re a way to show you’re on the move, both in your words and in your thoughts.
Go ahead and put your dynamic vocabulary to work, and watch your language race past the rest.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
