Meaning & use
run of play
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrasesportBritish
the general pattern of who is attacking and controlling a game, especially in football
Grammar: Used with 'the', mainly in the phrase 'against the run of play'.
Patterns
- against the run of play
- with the run of play
City were dominating, so their goal against the run of play came as a shock.
The visitors scored twice against the run of play in the second half.
For twenty minutes the run of play was entirely in United's favor.
phrasefixed phrasesportBritish
a goal or result that goes against the team that has been playing better
Grammar: Often describes a single surprising event, not the whole match.
Patterns
- score against the run of play
- win against the run of play
Their equalizer was completely against the run of play.
It was an against-the-run-of-play victory that few expected.
Common combinations
- against the run of play
- They scored against the run of play just before half-time.
- with the run of play
- The second goal went with the run of play.
- completely against the run of play
- The winner was completely against the run of play.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flow of the game
- A more general phrase for how a match is going, not tied to the fixed 'against the run of play' idiom.
Commonly confused: run of play or run-in?
run of play vs run-in
A 'run-in' is the final games of a season or a quarrel; it has nothing to do with who is controlling play.
Practice
Liverpool were on top all game, but Chelsea scored ___ the run of play.
Choose one answer.
'Against the run of play' is the fixed football phrase for a goal that goes against the team playing better. The other prepositions do not form this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “run of play”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.