in the running
23
4.2
- idiom
:
con posibilidades
- After months of hard work, she is still in the running for the prestigious art award.
- still in the running
- put you in the running
- candidate in the running
Am I in the running for godfather every child?
- Am I in the running for godfather every child?
- But last night we sat down and we have two major names in the running.
- And I'm like, you know, there's, you're in the, you're in the running, you're auditioning, you're giving it your, your shot.
- There's no, I'm the only British High Street bank in the running at the minute that's trying to open on the High Street.
Examples
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I just got word that another firm's in the running for the R&S account.
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Here are the teams still in the running for the BCS and some other notable games.
Blog text (23) -
I want to be in the running.
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Coming down to this last race, four men are in the running for the championship...
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Ray was the obvious choice, but Pat was in the running, too.
Blog text (19) -
Neither team is in the running to be ranked in the upcoming week.
Blog text (14) -
And just who is in the running for greatest inventor of all time?
Blog text (22) -
Her political savvy has sharpened, and she may very well be in the running.
Blog text (13) -
We've made a breakthrough in genetics that'll put us in the running for a Nobel.
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By then, only four candidates were in the running: Vargas, Sanchez, Torres, and Andres Vazquez, an assistant to Gov. Ella Grasso.
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
564
2.3
A person being considered for a job, award or prize
354
3.9
Willing to join an activity or be chosen for a job
Officially chosen for a job, award, or honor
How Likely
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase derives from the metaphor of being part of a race: 'in' (= included among) + 'the running' (= the contest), so the sense 'still a candidate / having a chance' is partially inferable from the parts. However, the noun phrase and metaphorical shift from literal 'running' to competitive status is not completely predictable for a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase in the running comes from the picture of a race: people who are still running and still in the race can still win. So, if you are in the running you still have a 'chance' to be 'selected' or to 'win'.