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Meaning & use

runners and riders

phrase·AdvancedBritishinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌrʌnəz ən ˈraɪdəz/
US/ˌrʌnərz ən ˈraɪdərz/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phraseBritish

    The horses and their jockeys taking part in a race, especially a horse race.

    Grammar: Used as a plural phrase, often after 'the': the runners and riders are listed in the program.

    Patterns

    • the runners and riders in a race
    • a list of runners and riders

    The runners and riders came out onto the track for the big race.

    By noon the runners and riders for the first race had all been declared.

    She studies the form of every runner and rider before placing a bet.

  2. phrasefixed phraseBritishinformalfigurative

    The people competing for a job or position, seen as a group to be compared.

    Grammar: Used figuratively in politics and business, usually with 'the': the runners and riders for the leadership.

    Patterns

    • the runners and riders for something
    • the runners and riders in a contest

    Journalists spent the week assessing the runners and riders for the party leadership.

    With three months to go, the runners and riders for the top job are still unclear.

    The paper ran a profile of the runners and riders hoping to become the next mayor.

Common combinations

the runners and riders for the leadership
Commentators are already naming the runners and riders for the leadership.
declare the runners and riders
Officials will declare the runners and riders an hour before the race.
a field of runners and riders
A strong field of runners and riders was entered for the cup.
assess the runners and riders
Pundits assess the runners and riders as soon as a vacancy appears.
the runners and riders in the race
The runners and riders in the race were introduced to the crowd.

Synonyms and how they differ

the field
Used in racing for all the competitors together; it does not mention the riders separately, so it is less specific than 'runners and riders'.
contenders
Fits the figurative sense of people competing for a post, but it is not tied to horse racing.
candidates
A neutral word for people seeking a job or office; it lacks the racing image of 'runners and riders'.

Commonly confused: runners and riders or runners-up?

runners and riders vs runners-up

This means the people or teams who finish second, not the whole group of competitors. A runner-up has lost; the runners and riders are still competing.

Practice

The newspaper published a guide to the ______ for the party leadership.

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