out of the running

out of the running {adj.} or {adv. phr.}

Having no chance to win; not among the real contenders; not among those to be considered.

John had been out of the running since his first date with Mary, but he didn't realize it.

Jones's horse was put out of the running early in the race.

Contrast: IN THE RUNNING.

Categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

To section: O

Subscribe to: American Idioms

✉

Our RSS-channels

Show All

See as well

in the running

[in the running] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Having a chance to win; not to be counted out; among those who might win. * /At the beginning of the last lap […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

running start

[running start] {n. phr.} Good progress at the beginning. * /The team was off to a running start, having won the first two games./ * /Contributions of $5000 before the […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

running commentary

[running commentary] {n. phr.} A continual series of remarks. * /My chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while he is giving me a rubdown./ A Dictionary of American Idioms

run short

[run short] {v. phr.} 1. To not have enough. * /Bob asked Jack to lend him five dollars because he was running short./ * /We are running short of sugar./ […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Recent updates

лёгок на помине

[лёгок на помине] {turn of speech} [`l'iogok na po`minye] {literally} ~volatile if/while mentioned. {informal} […]

attributed to Oliver Cromwell

Put your trust in God--but keep your powder dry.

pull out of a hat

[pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic; invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary […]

read between the lines

[read between the lines] {v. phr.} To understand all of a writer's meaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. * /Some […]