Running Rings Around: Defeating the Competition with Dizzying Skill
To “run rings around” someone means to decisively outdo or defeat them. This quirky yet vivid idiom implies that a person can outwit their competition even when taking a seemingly less straightforward path. This phrase has been imprinted on our linguistic psyche since the 1890s when G. Parker mentioned it in the Westminster Gazette (1894): “He could run rings round us in everything.”
Related Terms
- Outclass: To perform better than others consistently.
- Outmaneuver: To skillfully overcome someone by executing tactically superior actions.
- Beat Hollow: To comprehensively defeat, leaving no doubt about the superiority.
- Trounce: To decisively beat someone in a competition.
Similar Expressions & Idioms
- Wipe the floor with: To defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly.
- Leave in the dust: To outpace and defeat competitors by a wide margin.
- Crush: To subdue or defeat utterly.
Synonyms
- Dominate
- Surpass
- Excel
- Prevail
Antonyms
- Struggle
- Flounder
- Lag
Proverbial Pearls of Wisdom
- “Slow and steady wins the race.” – Sometimes consistency trumps erratic brilliance.
- “All’s fair in love and war.” – Strategic maneuvering often involves clever moves not seen straight ahead.
Why It’s Hilariously True
“Running rings around” depicts a scenario where someone is so utterly dominant that they can engage in all sorts of showy theatrics and still win.
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies to Explore:
- Literature & Books: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card – A young genius outmaneuvers everyone on the battlefield.
- Movies: Mike Tyson’s Greatest Knockouts – Demonstrates raw, decisive victories in sport.
- Songs: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor – Unwavering focus and dominance.
- Poetry: If by Rudyard Kipling – Motivational verses on mastering life’s challenges and opponents.
Farewell Thought:
And so dear reader, remember: While some race straight to the finish line, others run circles around them with dazzling skill and strategy. You’re well-equipped to strategize and dominate your next challenge!
Quiz Time! 🍎🎓
### Which phrase means to decisively outperform someone?
- [x] Run rings around
- [ ] Sleep with the fishes
- [ ] Sit on the fence
- [ ] Build castles in the air
> **Explanation:** "Run rings around" means to decisively defeat someone by outdoing them entirely. The others relate to different scenarios entirely (most of them quite unproductive!).
### Which expression is synonymous with "run rings around"?
- [ ] Twiddle your thumbs
- [ ] Hold your horses
- [x] Wipe the floor with
- [ ] Bark up the wrong tree
> **Explanation:** "Wipe the floor with" means to defeat someone comprehensively, much like "run rings around." The rest are different idioms with varied meanings.
### True or False: To "run rings around" someone suggests direct, straightforward tactics.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. The idiom implies unconventional and often indirect methods of achieving decisive victory.
