Synonyms

run rings around

Idioms

Also, run circles around. Be markedly superior to, as in Ethan runs rings around David in chess, or In spelling, Karen runs circles around her classmates. The first term, dating from the late 1800s, alludes to a horse running around a riding ring much faster than the others.

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.

See Examples For:

run rings around

"I kept having DOJ run rings around me. Right now, as we speak, we have our team of attorneys going through that document in great detail."

From Fox News ● Dec. 9, 2019

I also discovered that people with thick Southern accents could run rings around me in chemistry class.

From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2019

In Klagenfurt he was battered and kicked and bumped by Torsten Frings, Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger, but bounced up to elude and bewitch and generally run rings around Germany’s midfield.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 14, 2018

Pacey Ecuadorian forward Enner Valencia arrived after a successful World Cup to run rings around full backs, and striker Andy Carroll regained fitness after an early season setback to bludgeon his way past central defenders.

From Washington Times ● May 20, 2015

For sheer cleverness she could run rings around them all.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl

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

run rings around

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words