Sometimes we need to move quickly, whether we’re late, trying to win a race, or just full of energy. People often use idioms to talk about running fast. These idioms are special sayings that describe speed in fun and creative ways. They help us imagine someone moving really fast, like a rocket or a flash of lightning.
In this article, we’ll explore idioms for running fast. These sayings can describe a person, an animal, or even how time feels when it goes by quickly. They make speaking and writing more exciting. Let’s look at these idioms and see how they show speed in different ways.
Idioms for Running Fast
1. Quick as a flash
Meaning: Very fast.
Samples: She grabbed the ball quick as a flash. / He was gone quick as a flash.
To Put it Another Way: Really fast. / In no time at all.
2. Like the wind
Meaning: Moving very fast.
Samples: He ran like the wind. / She flew down the field like the wind.
To Put it Another Way: Super fast. / Fast like a breeze.
3. In a heartbeat
Meaning: Done very quickly.
Samples: I’d run there in a heartbeat. / She got ready in a heartbeat.
To Put it Another Way: Right away. / Very fast.
4. In no time
Meaning: Very quickly.
Samples: We got to the park in no time. / He finished his lap in no time.
To Put it Another Way: Really fast. / It didn’t take long.
5. Like a rocket
Meaning: Very fast movement.
Samples: She ran off like a rocket. / He sped down the track like a rocket.
To Put it Another Way: Very quick. / Like zooming.
6. Fast as lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast.
Samples: That runner is fast as lightning. / He finished fast as lightning.
To Put it Another Way: Super speedy. / Fast like a storm flash.
7. At top speed
Meaning: As fast as possible.
Samples: He ran at top speed to the door. / She chased the dog at top speed.
To Put it Another Way: As fast as she could. / Really quick.
8. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Very quickly, almost instantly.
Samples: She was gone in the blink of an eye. / It happened in the blink of an eye.
To Put it Another Way: Almost instantly. / So fast you barely see it.
9. Make a dash
Meaning: Run quickly and suddenly.
Samples: I made a dash to the car in the rain. / She made a dash for the bus.
To Put it Another Way: Ran quickly. / Rushed fast.
10. Run like a deer
Meaning: Run smoothly and fast.
Samples: He runs like a deer on the track. / She ran like a deer through the field.
To Put it Another Way: Graceful and fast. / Moves quickly and lightly.
11. Speed off
Meaning: Leave quickly.
Samples: He sped off down the road. / She sped off toward the playground.
To Put it Another Way: Left fast. / Ran away quickly.
12. Like a shot
Meaning: Very fast and sudden.
Samples: He left like a shot when school ended. / She ran like a shot after the bell rang.
To Put it Another Way: Instantly. / As quick as a blink.
13. Gone in a flash
Meaning: Disappeared quickly.
Samples: The squirrel was gone in a flash. / She was gone in a flash after class.
To Put it Another Way: Vanished fast. / Left quickly.
14. Race against time
Meaning: Trying to do something very fast before time runs out.
Samples: It was a race against time to finish the test. / They raced against time to catch the train.
To Put it Another Way: Try to beat the clock. / Move very fast.
15. Move at breakneck speed
Meaning: Move extremely fast.
Samples: He biked at breakneck speed. / She ran at breakneck speed during the race.
To Put it Another Way: So fast it was scary. / Very quick.
16. Take off
Meaning: Start running fast.
Samples: He took off as soon as the whistle blew. / She took off after the ball.
To Put it Another Way: Started running quickly. / Left fast.
17. Run like the wind
Meaning: Run very fast.
Samples: She ran like the wind to get the ball. / He ran like the wind across the field.
To Put it Another Way: Really fast. / Very speedy.
18. As fast as your legs can carry you
Meaning: Run as fast as possible.
Samples: Run as fast as your legs can carry you! / He moved as fast as his legs could carry him.
To Put it Another Way: As fast as you can go. / Don’t slow down.
19. In a flash
Meaning: Very quickly.
Samples: She cleaned up in a flash. / He finished the race in a flash.
To Put it Another Way: Quickly. / Super fast.
20. On the double
Meaning: Very fast, right away.
Samples: Get here on the double! / She finished her work on the double.
To Put it Another Way: Hurry up. / Right now.
21. Bolt
Meaning: Run away very fast.
Samples: He bolted when the door opened. / She bolted across the field.
To Put it Another Way: Took off fast. / Ran away quickly.
22. Like greased lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast.
Samples: He ran like greased lightning. / That kid is fast like greased lightning!
To Put it Another Way: Very speedy. / Super quick.
23. Break into a run
Meaning: Start running suddenly.
Samples: He broke into a run after spotting his bus. / She broke into a run at recess.
To Put it Another Way: Started running. / Began moving fast.
24. Tear off
Meaning: Run away quickly.
Samples: The kids tore off down the hallway. / He tore off after the ball.
To Put it Another Way: Ran fast. / Moved away quickly.
25. Zoom by
Meaning: Pass quickly.
Samples: The runner zoomed by us. / She zoomed by on her bike.
To Put it Another Way: Moved past fast. / Passed quickly.
26. Fly down the track
Meaning: Run quickly on a track.
Samples: He flew down the track during the race. / She flew down the track like a champ.
To Put it Another Way: Ran very fast. / Moved swiftly.
27. Hustle
Meaning: Move quickly with purpose.
Samples: Hustle to the line! / He hustled to class.
To Put it Another Way: Move fast. / Hurry.
28. Take to your heels
Meaning: Run away quickly.
Samples: He took to his heels when he saw the dog. / They took to their heels at the sound of thunder.
To Put it Another Way: Ran away fast. / Escaped quickly.
29. High-tail it
Meaning: Leave quickly.
Samples: She high-tailed it to class when the bell rang. / He high-tailed it home in the rain.
To Put it Another Way: Rushed off. / Left fast.
30. Rush like mad
Meaning: Run with a lot of speed and energy.
Samples: We rushed like mad to finish on time. / They rushed like mad to catch the bus.
To Put it Another Way: Ran super fast. / Moved quickly with effort.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Running Fast
Reading Passage: “Race Day Trouble”
It was the morning of the big school track race. Jordan was nervous but excited. As soon as the whistle blew, he took off like a rocket. He was quick as a flash, passing runner after runner. He flew down the track like the wind.
Suddenly, Jordan’s shoelace came undone. He tried to make a dash to the finish line, but he lost his pace. Mia, who had been right behind him, broke into a run and sped by in a flash. The others zoomed by too, moving at breakneck speed.
Jordan didn’t give up. He tied his shoe in a heartbeat and ran like a deer. He finished the race, even if he didn’t win. “You ran as fast as your legs could carry you,” his coach said with a smile.
Your Task:
Can you underline or list all 8 idioms for running fast used in the passage?
Answer Key
- Like a rocket
- Quick as a flash
- Like the wind
- Make a dash
- Broke into a run
- In a flash
- At breakneck speed
- As fast as your legs could carry you
Conclusion
Running fast is something we see in sports, games, or even daily life. Idioms for running fast give us fun and easy ways to describe quick movement. These sayings make stories and conversations more lively and clear.
By learning these idioms, you can explain speed in a smarter and more interesting way. So the next time you or someone else moves fast, try using one of these idioms it’ll help your words race ahead.
