Give Someone a Run for Their Money
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
To compete seriously against someone considered stronger — to make things difficult for a rival.
Quick meaning: To give someone a run for their money is to compete hard against them and make them work for victory, even if they are expected to win. The challenger may not triumph, but they make the contest close and difficult.
Meaning
If you give someone a run for their money, you compete strongly against them — usually against an opponent who is favoured or considered better. You push them hard, force them to make an effort, and make the outcome far from certain. The phrase suggests an impressive, spirited challenge rather than an easy defeat.
Importantly, the idiom does not require the underdog to win. It emphasises the quality of the effort and the closeness of the contest. Even if the stronger party ultimately wins, the challenger has “given them a run for their money” by making it a tough battle.
The expression is common in sport, business, and any competitive situation. It can also be used more loosely to mean offering good value or a genuine challenge in comparison with something more established.
Origin
This idiom comes from horse racing. When you bet on a horse, you want it to run a strong, competitive race so that your stake feels worthwhile — even if it does not win. A well-backed horse that ran a good race gave the bettor value, or “a run for their money,” meaning the wager bought a genuine, exciting contest.
The phrase dates from the 19th century and originally referred quite literally to this sense of getting value from a bet through a hard-fought race. Over time it broadened to describe any situation where one side competes strongly against another, regardless of betting or racing. Idioms like this are the kind of expression documented in general reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which record how figurative meanings develop in everyday English.
Today the racing connection is mostly forgotten, and the idiom is used freely across sport, business, and everyday competition.
Example Sentences
Nobody expected the small team to win, but they certainly gave the champions a run for their money.
The new startup is giving the big established firms a run for their money with its lower prices.
She may be only twelve, but she gave the adult players a run for their money at the chess tournament.
Dialogue Example
A: Did the underdogs lose the final in the end?
B: Yes, but only by one point — they really gave the favourites a run for their money. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.
Usage Notes
This idiom is used in both British and American English and is fairly informal, common in sports commentary and casual conversation. The pronoun in the middle changes to fit the situation: “give him,” “give her,” “give them,” or “give the champions a run for their money.” It often follows the word “certainly,” “really,” or “definitely” for emphasis.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes think the phrase means the challenger must win — it does not. It means the challenger competes strongly and makes the contest difficult, win or lose. Also, remember to use the possessive matching the person: “a run for their money,” “a run for his money,” not “a run for the money.”
Related Idioms
Practise English Idioms
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Want to understand the grammar behind this? Explore our Grammar guides.
Quick Check: Give Someone a Run for Their Money
1 question — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Give Someone a Run for Their Money” mean?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "give someone a run for their money" mean?
It means to compete seriously against someone, especially a stronger opponent, and make things difficult for them — making the contest close even if you do not win.
How do you use "give someone a run for their money" in a sentence?
You can say "the small team gave the champions a run for their money" or "this new product gives the leading brand a run for its money." Change the pronoun to match the situation.
Where does "give someone a run for their money" come from?
It comes from horse racing. A well-backed horse that ran a good, competitive race gave the bettor value for their stake, even if it did not win — "a run for their money."
Do you have to win to give someone a run for their money?
No. The idiom emphasises competing strongly and making the contest difficult. You can give someone a run for their money and still lose, as long as it was a close, hard-fought battle.
Is "give someone a run for their money" formal or informal?
It is fairly informal. It is very common in sports commentary, business talk, and everyday conversation, but it is generally too casual for formal academic writing.
Can it be used in business, not just sport?
Yes. It is often used in business to describe a smaller or newer company competing strongly against a larger, established rival, such as "the startup is giving the industry giants a run for their money."
Does the pronoun change?
Yes. The middle changes to fit who is being challenged: "give him," "give her," "give them," or "give the leaders a run for their money." The possessive at the end matches too.
What is the opposite of this idiom?
The opposite would be to "lose easily," "be no match for," or "go down without a fight" — failing to make the contest competitive at all.
What are common collocations with this idiom?
Common collocations include "certainly gave them a run for their money," "really gave the favourites a run for their money," and "gave the champions a run for their money."
What English level is this idiom suitable for?
It is pitched at B2 (Upper Intermediate) level, as it is a longer figurative phrase with a flexible pronoun and a meaning that goes beyond the literal words.