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

See Examples For:

run interference

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

“But rather than independently investigating this, they’ve tried to run interference more than anything,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 25, 2021

So when she could find the time, she would paint furiously on the weekend and my dad would run interference to keep the kids away.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2020

“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

Related Words

• accelerate
• assist
• facilitate
• hasten
• promote
• quicken
• speed
• urge