Running is a natural activity that everyone experiences in some form, whether it’s physical or metaphorical. People often use metaphors for running to describe the pace, challenges, or even progress in various aspects of life. These metaphors help bring meaning to situations that require effort, movement, or perseverance. From the simple act of running to the emotional “run” through life’s challenges, these metaphors create vivid images that capture the essence of the experience.
In this article, we’ll explore 40 metaphors for “running.” These expressions will help you describe everything from life’s fast pace to the struggles of staying on track. Whether you’re talking about running toward success or running from obstacles, these metaphors will give you a creative way to express different aspects of running.
Metaphors for Running
1. Running a marathon
Meaning: Engaging in a long and challenging process that requires patience and perseverance.
Samples: The project felt like running a marathon, with no end in sight. / Starting a new business is like running a marathon, taking time and effort to reach success.
To Put it Another Way: A long and tiring journey. / A process that requires sustained effort.
2. Running on empty
Meaning: Operating with little energy or resources left.
Samples: After working all night, I was running on empty the next day. / He had been studying for hours and was running on empty by the evening.
To Put it Another Way: Running low on energy. / Feeling exhausted and worn out.
3. Running in circles
Meaning: Making no real progress, repeating the same actions without results.
Samples: I’ve been running in circles all day and still haven’t solved the problem. / The team was running in circles, stuck in the same issues.
To Put it Another Way: Going nowhere. / Repeating actions without moving forward.
4. Running the race of life
Meaning: Experiencing the challenges and achievements of life as a long competition.
Samples: We’re all running the race of life, trying to achieve our dreams and overcome obstacles. / His career felt like running the race of life, always striving for the next step.
To Put it Another Way: Facing life’s challenges. / Living through constant growth and competition.
5. Running out of steam
Meaning: Losing energy or motivation to continue something.
Samples: After working for hours, I was running out of steam and couldn’t focus. / She felt like she was running out of steam with the endless tasks piling up.
To Put it Another Way: Losing energy. / Becoming tired and unable to continue at the same pace.
6. Running a tight race
Meaning: Competing in a situation where the outcome is uncertain and everyone is closely matched.
Samples: The election was running a tight race, with both candidates close in votes. / The competition for the scholarship was running a tight race, with only one spot available.
To Put it Another Way: A close competition. / A tight contest where the result could go either way.
7. Running to catch up
Meaning: Trying to reach the same level as others after falling behind.
Samples: I’ve been running to catch up with the work after missing a week of school. / She was running to catch up on all the emails after returning from vacation.
To Put it Another Way: Trying to make up for lost time. / Striving to reach the same point as others.
8. Running like the wind
Meaning: Running very fast, often with ease.
Samples: The athlete was running like the wind, breezing past the competition. / He ran like the wind when the game was on the line.
To Put it Another Way: Running at full speed. / Moving fast and effortlessly.
9. Running against the clock
Meaning: Trying to finish something before a deadline or time limit.
Samples: I was running against the clock to finish my project before the deadline. / She had to race to get everything done, running against the clock.
To Put it Another Way: Racing to meet a deadline. / Trying to complete something quickly before time runs out.
10. Running the show
Meaning: Being in control or charge of something.
Samples: He’s been running the show at work, making all the important decisions. / She’s been running the show for the charity, organizing every event.
To Put it Another Way: Being in charge. / Taking control of a situation or event.
11. Running on fumes
Meaning: Continuing to operate with minimal resources or energy.
Samples: After a long week, he was running on fumes and could barely keep his eyes open. / The car was running on fumes, barely making it to the gas station.
To Put it Another Way: Operating with very little left. / Using up the last bit of energy or resources.
12. Running through the motions
Meaning: Doing something without real effort or enthusiasm, just going through the steps.
Samples: She was just running through the motions, not really caring about the presentation. / He felt like he was running through the motions at work, doing the bare minimum.
To Put it Another Way: Doing something automatically. / Going through tasks without real engagement.
13. Running on all cylinders
Meaning: Operating at full capacity, doing everything as efficiently as possible.
Samples: The team was running on all cylinders, completing the project ahead of schedule. / After a good night’s rest, I was running on all cylinders again.
To Put it Another Way: Operating at peak performance. / Doing everything efficiently and quickly.
14. Running wild
Meaning: Acting without control or restriction.
Samples: The kids were running wild at the party, causing chaos everywhere. / The rumors started running wild, making things even more complicated.
To Put it Another Way: Acting recklessly. / Going out of control.
15. Running low
Meaning: Having a limited amount of something.
Samples: We’re running low on time, so we need to hurry. / The company’s funds are running low, and they need to secure more investors.
To Put it Another Way: Having almost nothing left. / Running out of something important.
16. Running a risk
Meaning: Taking a chance that something might go wrong.
Samples: Starting a new business is always running a risk, but the rewards can be great. / She was running a risk by quitting her job without another one lined up.
To Put it Another Way: Taking a chance. / Doing something with potential for failure.
17. Running headfirst into trouble
Meaning: Engaging in something without thinking about the consequences.
Samples: He ran headfirst into trouble by agreeing to the deal without reading the fine print. / She ran headfirst into trouble by not listening to the advice.
To Put it Another Way: Moving into a situation without caution. / Engaging in something risky without considering the consequences.
18. Running a tight ship
Meaning: Managing something efficiently and with strict control.
Samples: She runs a tight ship, making sure everything at the office is in order. / The project manager runs a tight ship, keeping the team focused and organized.
To Put it Another Way: Managing well. / Keeping things orderly and under control.
19. Running with scissors
Meaning: Engaging in a risky or dangerous activity.
Samples: He was running with scissors when he decided to take a shortcut on the project. / She was running with scissors by ignoring safety protocols.
To Put it Another Way: Taking unnecessary risks. / Doing something reckless or dangerous.
20. Running the gauntlet
Meaning: Enduring a difficult or challenging situation that requires perseverance.
Samples: He had to run the gauntlet of tough interviews to get the job. / The team ran the gauntlet of harsh competition during the championship.
To Put it Another Way: Facing a series of challenges. / Enduring something difficult to reach a goal.
21. Running out of time
Meaning: Having little time left to complete something.
Samples: We’re running out of time to submit the application, so hurry up! / He was running out of time to finish the report before the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: Having almost no time left. / Racing against the clock.
22. Running off the rails
Meaning: Going off course, or losing control of a situation.
Samples: The project started running off the rails after the manager left. / The conversation ran off the rails as they argued about irrelevant issues.
To Put it Another Way: Losing control. / Going in an unexpected or wrong direction.
23. Running a tight deadline
Meaning: Working under pressure to finish something by a set time.
Samples: We’re running a tight deadline for the final draft of the report. / The design team is running a tight deadline to meet the product launch.
To Put it Another Way: A challenging time constraint. / Trying to meet an urgent deadline.
24. Running the risk of failure
Meaning: Taking actions that may result in failure.
Samples: They were running the risk of failure by not preparing for the presentation. / She was running the risk of failure by investing in such an uncertain market.
To Put it Another Way: Facing the possibility of failure. / Taking a chance that could lead to a negative result.
25. Running through the finish line
Meaning: Completing a task or challenge successfully.
Samples: She ran through the finish line of the project with great results. / After months of work, they finally ran through the finish line and launched the product.
To Put it Another Way: Completing something successfully. / Reaching the end of a goal with success.
26. Running the gamut
Meaning: Experiencing a wide range of experiences or emotions.
Samples: The movie ran the gamut of emotions, making everyone laugh and cry. / He ran the gamut of possibilities before deciding which option to choose.
To Put it Another Way: Covering a wide range. / Experiencing a variety of things.
27. Running a red light
Meaning: Ignoring the rules or proceeding with something risky.
Samples: By leaving the company without a plan, he was running a red light. / They were running a red light by bypassing the usual procedures.
To Put it Another Way: Taking a risk by ignoring the rules. / Acting recklessly.
28. Running in the fast lane
Meaning: Living life or pursuing goals with a sense of speed and excitement.
Samples: He’s been running in the fast lane, moving from one adventure to the next. / She’s in the fast lane at work, taking on more responsibilities.
To Put it Another Way: Moving quickly and actively. / Living life at full speed.
29. Running on all four cylinders
Meaning: Operating at full capacity or efficiency.
Samples: The team is running on all four cylinders, completing tasks faster than expected. / He was running on all four cylinders after a good night’s rest.
To Put it Another Way: Working at full potential. / Operating efficiently and at maximum performance.
30. Running a fever
Meaning: Being very excited or intense about something.
Samples: The fans were running a fever during the championship game. / His excitement about the new project was running a fever.
To Put it Another Way: Feeling excited or intense. / Being passionate or overwhelmed with enthusiasm.
31. Running the numbers
Meaning: Analyzing or calculating data or possibilities.
Samples: Before making any decisions, we need to run the numbers on the new proposal. / He spent the morning running the numbers to make sure the budget was right.
To Put it Another Way: Analyzing or calculating something. / Reviewing data or options.
32. Running low on options
Meaning: Having very few choices or alternatives left.
Samples: We’re running low on options for the venue, with most places already booked. / He was running low on options after failing multiple job interviews.
To Put it Another Way: Having limited choices. / Running out of alternatives.
33. Running toward success
Meaning: Actively pursuing success or goals.
Samples: She’s running toward success with hard work and dedication. / The company is running toward success with their new product line.
To Put it Another Way: Pursuing success. / Moving actively toward a goal.
34. Running into a brick wall
Meaning: Hitting an obstacle or barrier that is hard to overcome.
Samples: I was running into a brick wall trying to fix the software bug. / His attempts to solve the issue kept running into a brick wall.
To Put it Another Way: Facing a strong obstacle. / Reaching an impassable barrier.
35. Running to the beat of your own drum
Meaning: Doing things in your own way, without following the usual norms.
Samples: She’s always running to the beat of her own drum, ignoring what everyone else does. / He loves running to the beat of his own drum when it comes to fashion.
To Put it Another Way: Acting independently. / Doing things your own way.
36. Running after your dreams
Meaning: Actively pursuing your goals and ambitions.
Samples: He’s been running after his dreams of becoming a successful artist. / She’s running after her dreams, determined to achieve her goals.
To Put it Another Way: Chasing your aspirations. / Actively pursuing your goals.
37. Running against the tide
Meaning: Working or struggling against a dominant force or opinion.
Samples: He was running against the tide, trying to convince others of his ideas. / The company was running against the tide by trying to innovate in a declining market.
To Put it Another Way: Going against the norm. / Struggling against a powerful opposing force.
38. Running in sync
Meaning: Moving or working in harmony or agreement.
Samples: The team was running in sync, completing their tasks smoothly and efficiently. / Their schedules were running in sync, allowing for perfect collaboration.
To Put it Another Way: Working in harmony. / Operating together without conflicts.
39. Running out of gas
Meaning: Becoming exhausted or losing motivation.
Samples: After a long week, I felt like I was running out of gas. / He was running out of gas in the middle of the project, struggling to finish.
To Put it Another Way: Losing energy. / Becoming too tired to continue.
40. Running toward a cliff
Meaning: Moving toward a dangerous or risky situation without realizing the consequences.
Samples: His reckless behavior felt like running toward a cliff, with no safety net. / The company’s decisions were running toward a cliff, threatening its future.
To Put it Another Way: Moving toward danger. / Heading toward a risky or harmful situation.
Find the Topics: Metaphors for Running
Ella had always been someone who liked to take things at her own pace. But lately, she felt like she was running a marathon. Every task seemed to require endless effort and time. It felt like running against the clock, with deadlines coming faster than she could handle. As she rushed through her work, it was as if she were running in circles, constantly trying to keep up but never getting ahead.
Her days were often like running a tight race, always battling to stay focused and finish tasks before time ran out. Some days, she was running on empty, struggling to find the energy to keep going. But Ella refused to stop. She knew that in the race for success, she would have to run the race of life, no matter how tough it seemed.
Despite the obstacles, she felt like she was running through the motions, just getting by. But in her heart, she knew she was running toward success, even if it felt like running a bumpy road.
Your Task:
Can you underline or list the 10 metaphors for “running” used in the story above?
Answer Key
- Running a marathon
- Running against the clock
- Running in circles
- Running a tight race
- Running on empty
- Running the race of life
- Running through the motions
- Running toward success
- Running a bumpy road
- Battling to stay focused
Conclusion
Metaphors for running are a creative way to describe the challenges, progress, and struggles we face in life. They help us understand how it feels to be in motion—whether it’s toward success, through obstacles, or just trying to keep up. These metaphors allow us to express the ups and downs of our journeys, making our language more vivid and meaningful. Next time you feel like you’re racing against the clock or running a marathon, remember these metaphors to better explain what you’re going through.
