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Synonyms

run interference

Idioms  

  1. Handle problems or help clear the way for another, as in The press secretary runs interference for the governor. This term comes from football, where it refers to the blocking of defensive players by offensive players to let the ball carrier advance. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At times Robbie has to run interference between his son and daughter when things get too heated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

“Whenever she visits, I’ve never seen her turn anybody away. She’s accessible almost to a fault. Sometimes, we don’t know if we should go and run interference, but she never seems bothered.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2022

He told her: “He’s gonna run interference for me right now, and that’s damn good advice, and I appreciate that very much.”

From Seattle Times • May 5, 2022

Driving for two days with my friend and my unhappy husband wasn’t a barrel of laughs, but it’s a blessing to have someone who can run interference and is better at counting to 10.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2021

“Then can you please go out there and find out? And run interference for Mummy and Papa?”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.