run rings around

Idioms and Phrases

Also, run circles around . Be markedly superior to, as in Ethan runs rings around David in chess , or In spelling, Karen runs circles around her classmates . The first term, dating from the late 1800s, alludes to a horse running around a riding ring much faster than the others.

Related Words

• counter
• curb
• elude
• frustrate
• hinder
• nullify
• prevent
• thwart