give sb. a run for his money

   Share on Facebook  
Angliholic  #347684  Fri, 06 Apr 07 04:43 AM
When the badminton player is doing everything to keep the shuttlecock off the floor on his side of the net, and doing a very good job of giving his opponent a run for his money, he is "on fire." It can also be used to describe a team, someone who cleans up on the stock market, or a preacher in a pulpit.


First, I've seen the phrase in bold a few times when descrbing a badminton game, and I'm not quite sure what it means. Does it mean "giving his opponent a hard time in winning the prize?"
Second, I've never seen "cleans up on the stock market" before. Does it mean "win wisely a great amount of money on the stock market?"
  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007
SomewhereinFormosa
Veteran Member (5,511)
Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達
Clive  #347696  Fri, 06 Apr 07 05:24 AM

Hi,

When the badminton player is doing everything to keep the shuttlecock off the floor on his side of the net, and doing a very good job of giving his opponent a run for his money, he is "on fire." It can also be used to describe a team, someone who cleans up on the stock market, or a preacher in a pulpit.

First, I've seen the phrase in bold a few times when descrbing a badminton game, and I'm not quite sure what it means. Does it mean "giving his opponent a hard time in winning the prize?" Yes, that's the idea. "Make the other guy work hard if he wants to win".
Second, I've never seen "cleans up on the stock market" before. Does it mean "win wisely a great amount of money on the stock market?"
You don't 'win' money on the stock market, you can say 'earn' or 'gain'. You have the right idea, except you don't need the word 'wisely'. Perhaps the person was wise, perhaps he was merely lucky.
 
Best wishes, Clive
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (22,187)
ModeratorTeachers
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
Angliholic  #347727  Fri, 06 Apr 07 07:37 AM
Thanks, Clive.
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service