IDIOMS

World of sports

IN ENGLISH, THE BUSINESS WORLD DRAWS SIGNIFICANT INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD OF SPORTS, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN MANY COMMONLY USED EXPRESSIONS. WE HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF OVER 130 SUCH EXPRESSIONS, COMPLETE WITH EXPLANATIONS AND EXAMPLES.

GIVE SOMEONE A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.
Horses racing on a dirt track, symbolizing strong competition and the origin of the expression 'give someone a run for their money.'

This expression is used when a person, strategy, or organization performs beyond expectations. It can apply to a winning case or to a situation where, even without achieving victory, the performance was strong enough to pose an unexpected challenge.

The expression comes from the world of sports, more specifically, horse racing. It originally referred to a horse that, even without winning the race, delivered an impressive enough performance to make bettors feel their money was well spent.

Examples of use in a business context:

  • Our new software is giving the established options a run for their money.

  • This new salesperson is giving our seasoned professionals a run for their money after just six months.

  • Local shops are giving large retailers a run for their money in specific market segments.

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