Idiom
give a run for your money
Meanings
To provide strong competition and make someone work hard to succeed or win.
To be almost as good as a person or thing that is usually considered the best, creating a close contest.
Definition
To give a run for your money means to challenge someone strongly and make them work hard to win.
If someone gives you a run for your money, they compete with you so well that winning is not easy. It often suggests you are usually strong, but this time you face serious competition. The phrase is common in sports, business, and everyday comparisons.
Examples
- The rookie gave a run for your money in the final match.
- This new app will give a run for your money to the market leader.
- I thought I’d win easily, but she gave a run for your money.
- Their defense gave a run for your money to our top-ranked team.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire If something goes down to the wire, it is decided at the very last moment before the deadline or fi…
- lost the plot To become confused or unreasonable and no longer understand what is happening or what matters.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready in the correct order.