Out of the Running 🏃💨
Definition: Not competing; having no chance of winning.
Ah, the thrill of the race! Can you hear the crowd roaring and the announcer shouting, “And they’re off!”? Yet, there stands our hapless would-be competitor, lagging at the back of the pack. “Clearly out of the running,” one might say. An expression that leapt from the dust and exhilaration of the racing tracks to the myriad contests of day-to-day life, signaling that sad moment when it’s clear: no victory lap today, my friend.
Charles Kingsley’s Sprint to Idiomatic Fame
Hold your horses…or, rather, your water babies, as Charles Kingsley first penned this idiom in his 1863 classic, “Water-Babies”: “Which quite put her out of the running.” And from then on, ‘out of the running’ has steadily trotted into our lexicon, cheerfully retiring racing contenders and metaphorically sidestepping life’s no-chance scenarios.
Similar and Related Terms
Synonyms 👫
- Out of the game 🕹️
- Not in the hunt 🎯
- Out of contention 🥉
- Passé formula
- On the sidelines 🏈
Antonyms
- In the lead 🥇
- Ahead of the pack 🚴
- In the running 🏇
- Front runner 🏅
- Contending fabulously
Proverbs and Common Phrases
- “Every dog has its day” – Keep hopeful; everyone gets their chance.
- “You can’t win them all” – Acceptance of losses as part of life.
- “The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running” – Persistency can be key to success.
Quotes and Humor 😂
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win. But if you never win and you never quit, you’re probably just… out of the running.” - Jack Jestworthywords
“Never put your money on a nag that’s ‘out of the running.’ Might as well bet on a couch potato in a marathon!” - Stan Stilusive
Cultural References 📚🎥
Recommended Books:
- Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley 📘
- The Running Revolution by Nicholas Romanov 🏃
- The Amazing Adventures of No-Chance Norman – Fictional, but boy does he try!
Inspirational Songs:
- Eye of the Tiger by Survivor 🎵
- Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen 🎸
Poetry:
- Emily Dickinson - “Success is counted sweetest” 🏅
Movies:
- Chariots of Fire - Leaping into history with iconic music. 🏆
- Cool Runnings - It’s okay to be out of the running but in for the fun! 🛷
Mind Jogs: Quizzes to Keep You in the Game 📚👟
“In the race of life, sometimes sprint, sometimes jog, and when out of the running, cheer for others. Even the snail gets there eventually.” – 🏅 Emerson “Windy” Quipfield
Published: 📅 October 5, 2023 🏁 -Lexi E. Ver-word
