In football or any sports game, knowing how to run out the clock is a crucial strategy. When the remaining time is limited and your team has a lead, the primary goal becomes preserving possession of the ball and deliberately slowing play to prevent the opponent from scoring or staging a comeback.
I’ve seen quarterbacks scrambled in the backfield, intentionally falling to secure a victory, or passing in small margins to maintain position, all while the clock ticks down. This idiom, originated in American English in the late 19th century, broadly applies to tasks, conversations, or projects in life, where taking strategic, deliberate actions can achieve a goal before the deadline.
Run out the clock can also be used literally in timepieces, watches, or clocks, indicating the remaining time as it expires. In practical contexts, it’s a smart, sometimes risky move in games, debates, negotiations, or court trials, where delaying, stalling, or holding off opposition can secure advantages.
From home sports to company’s deals, even husband–wife serious talks, I’ve noticed that taking action while strategically waiting, preserving, or retaining resources or opportunities often prevents unnecessary losses.
Remember, whether it’s winning, scoring, or finishing a task, the concept of running out the clock is about control, timing, and knowing when to play smart rather than fast.
What Does “Run out the Clock” Mean?
The phrase “run out the clock” is an idiomatic expression commonly used in English to describe a strategy where someone intentionally uses up the remaining time in a game, event, or situation to maintain an advantage or prevent further action. It literally refers to letting the clock continue ticking until time is up, often without making aggressive moves.
For example, in a basketball game, a team with a lead may run out the clock by holding the ball and making safe passes rather than attempting risky plays. The phrase is also used metaphorically in meetings, debates, or negotiations to describe waiting until the end of a period before a decision or action must be taken.
Key idea: The focus is on preserving time or retaining advantage rather than actively pursuing additional gains.
Origin and Historical Background of the Phrase
The origin of “run out the clock” is closely linked to sports, especially American sports like basketball and football. Coaches and players noticed that controlling the clock could be decisive in winning games, particularly during the final minutes. Over time, the phrase transitioned into everyday English, used in politics, business, and casual conversation.
Historically, this strategy has been described as a defensive move, a way to hold, preserve, or waste time strategically. For example, during President’s elections, politicians may run out the clock in debates or sessions to prevent opponents from gaining more airtime or influence.
The idiom is also classified in dictionaries such as Cambridge and Wiktionary, which note its figurative sense in addition to its literal sports origin.
When and How Native Speakers Use “Run out the Clock”
Native speakers often use this phrase in both formal and informal contexts. Common situations include:
- Sports: “Our team decided to run out the clock after scoring a decisive goal.”
- Business meetings: “The manager’s strategy seemed to run out the clock while waiting for approvals.”
- Debates or negotiations: “He kept repeating points just to run out the clock before the jury reached a verdict.”
In casual conversation, it can also describe time management in personal life, like spending the last few minutes of a sleep session or activity period strategically.
Example:
“She knew the exam time was limited, so she ran out the clock by carefully reviewing her answers before handing them in.”
Tip for ESL learners: Using it in everyday English signals an understanding of idiomatic expressions, which adds fluency and naturalness to your speech.
Grammar and Usage Rules for the Phrase
The phrase “run out the clock” functions as a verb phrase, with run out as the main verb and the clock as the object. Here’s how to use it correctly:
- Present tense: I run out the clock during every basketball match.
- Past tense: They ran out the clock in the last five minutes.
- Continuous tense: She is running out the clock while waiting for the meeting to finish.
Important ESL note:
Avoid splitting the phrase or using it in a literal sense with non-time objects, e.g., “I ran out the milk” is incorrect unless you literally finished it.
Related grammar points:
- It’s usually active voice and transitive.
- Can be modified with adverbs: “strategically run out the clock” or “quickly ran out the clock.”
- Works well with time-related nouns: hours, minutes, seconds, period, session.
Correct vs. Incorrect Usage: Examples
Understanding correct versus incorrect usage helps prevent common mistakes, especially for non-native speakers.
Correct:
- “The team ran out the clock in the final round.”
- “During the negotiation, the lawyer tried to run out the clock.”
Incorrect:
- “I ran out the milk in the fridge.” (wrong meaning, literal context)
- “She is running out the pizza.” (misapplied object)
Tip: The phrase is idiomatic, so the object must relate to time or periods, not just anything physically present.
Idiomatic Expressions and Synonyms for “Run out the Clock”
If you want variety in your language, you can use several synonyms or related phrases:
| Phrase | Usage | Notes |
| Kill time | “We were just killing time before the meeting.” | More casual, less strategic |
| Waste time | “He wasted time instead of finishing his report.” | Negative connotation |
| Hold off | “They decided to hold off decisions until next week.” | Often professional or strategic |
| Play for time | “The company tried to play for time during negotiations.” | Formal/business usage |
| Tick away | “Minutes ticked away as she finished the assignment.” | More descriptive, literary style |
These expressions often spice up your vocabulary and help ESL learners sound natural.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Phrase in Sentences
Here’s a practical approach to using “run out the clock”:
- Identify the time period: Decide what “clock” or period you’re referring to (game, session, meeting).
- Choose the tense: Present, past, or continuous.
- Add adverbs for context: Strategically, slowly, efficiently.
- Place it naturally in a sentence: Ensure the meaning is clear.
Examples:
- “During the trial, the lawyer kept repeating points, clearly running out the clock.”
- “In the golf tournament, the team was running out the clock with careful putts.”
- “He ran out the clock in the chess match, making the last move just before time expired.”
Pro Tip: You can even include numbers or clock references like five, zero, hour, minute, or events like alarm, tickingface, boom to create vivid examples.
Common Mistakes Non-Native Speakers Make
Non-native speakers often struggle with literal translations and incorrect objects:
- Using milk, ammonia, or gold as the object: “I ran out the milk” → wrong idiomatic usage.
- Confusing the tense: “He run out the clock” → should be ran out the clock.
- Overusing in casual conversation, leading to confusion.
Tip: Remember, the phrase is time-specific, often linked to events, periods, sessions, or rounds.
Cultural and Contextual Considerations
Different cultures may interpret time management strategies differently. For instance:
- In US sports and politics, running out the clock is widely understood as strategic.
- In AU or European English, phrases like play for time may be more common.
Understanding the cultural and historical context helps non-native speakers use the phrase appropriately. Dictionaries often classify it as idiomatic, strategic, and figurative, not literal.
Using “Run out the Clock” in Professional Settings
This phrase can be applied in business, law, or project management:
- Meetings: “The manager’s approach seemed counterproductive, but she was just running out the clock.”
- Negotiations: Lawyers often run out the clock during lengthy closing arguments.
- Projects: Teams may run out the clock to gain more leeway before deadlines.
Pro Tip: Using idioms in professional settings requires confidence and understanding of nuance.
Fun and Creative Examples in Everyday Language
You can also make the phrase playful or creative:
- “He kept the analog dial ticking, almost like running out the clock in a video game.”
- “During atomic or biological tests, sometimes scientists run out the clock while waiting for results.”
- “In the San Jose chess club, students run out the clock deliberately to test opponents’ patience.”
These examples combine vivid vocabulary like atomic, biological, analog, chess, tickingface, alarm with the idiom, making it easier to remember and use.
Vocabulary Expansion: Related Words and Phrases
Learning related vocabulary strengthens your English fluency:
- Time-related: hour, minute, period, subperiod, lapse, span, frame
- Action-related: preserve, retain, hold, wait, delay, limit, achieve
- Idiom-related: play for time, hold off, kill time, waste time
- Context-related: debate, trial, meeting, session, event, project, negotiation
Tip: Using synonyms and related words keeps your language fresh and engaging.
Real-Life Scenarios and Roleplay Examples
- Classroom:
Teacher: “You have five minutes left. Don’t rush!”
Student: “We can run out the clock by reviewing all answers carefully.”
- Business:
Manager: “The board meeting is almost over.”
Employee: “Let’s run out the clock and finalize the last section of the report.”
- Sports:
Coach: “We’re ahead by two points.”
Player: “Time to run out the clock and hold possession.”
These examples combine practical usage, ESL-friendly context, and vivid vocabulary like project, session, round, turn, wind, whistle, alarm.
How to Recognize “Run out the Clock” in Literature and Media
- Books & novels: Authors may describe a character “running out the clock” in tense moments.
- Movies & TV: Sports movies often show teams using the tactic in decisive final minutes.
- News & politics: Phrases like “running out the clock on elections” or final minutes of Congress sessions appear in headlines.
Recognizing the idiom in media helps learners connect language to real experiences.
FAQs About “Run out the Clock”
1. What does “run out the clock” mean in everyday English?
It means to intentionally use up remaining time in a game, meeting, or situation to maintain an advantage or prevent further action.
2. Can I use it in professional meetings?
Yes, especially in negotiations, debates, or project management. Example: “We decided to run out the clock before the next session.”
3. What are common mistakes ESL learners make?
Using it literally with unrelated objects like milk, gold, or ammonia, or misapplying tense: “He run out the clock” instead of ran out the clock.
4. What are synonyms for “run out the clock”?
Play for time, hold off, kill time, waste time are commonly used depending on context and tone.
5. How can I practice using this idiom?
Try incorporating it in sports, chess, or project discussions, or roleplay negotiation scenarios to build confidence and fluency.
Conclusion: Mastering the Phrase Confidently
“Run out the clock” is a versatile, idiomatic phrase widely used in sports, professional settings, and casual English. By understanding its meaning, grammatical usage, and cultural context, ESL learners and native speakers alike can use it strategically and confidently. Remember to practice with real-life examples, mix in synonyms, and avoid literal misapplications to fully master this expression.
Using it naturally adds depth, fluency, and professionalism to your communication, whether in a debate, project, trial, or casual conversation. The more you engage with the idiom in context, the more intuitive it becomes, helping you beat the clock in both language and life.
Virginia Woolf was a pioneering modernist writer whose profound insight reshaped literature and explored the depths of human consciousness. Her words continue to inspire generations to think, feel, and question deeply.
