'run circles around most academics'
What's the meaning of the phrase?
If 'why' is explained, I'll be more thankful.
What's the meaning of the phrase?
If 'why' is explained, I'll be more thankful.
run circles around most academics
To "run circles around" someone/something means to outperform whoever/whatever you're comparing to. Without the context behind this, I couldn't really explain the "why" of this particular example, but it's talking about someone/something outperforming most academics.
I mean,
why 'run circles around' means 'outperform'?
That's what I was wondering in my post above.
Thank you, Kirk.
why 'run circles around' means 'outperform'?
That's what I was wondering in my post above.
Thank you, Kirk.
I agree with Kirk's explanation.
Some examples of its usage:
"I know some immigrants who are running circles around people who were born in the United States." - Rush Limbaugh
"Crows are smart birds. I'll bet a crow could run circles around a cat." -Anonymous
Some examples of its usage:
"I know some immigrants who are running circles around people who were born in the United States." - Rush Limbaugh
"Crows are smart birds. I'll bet a crow could run circles around a cat." -Anonymous
Oh, ok. Well, it's an idiomatic phrase (and those don't necessarily have to make perfect literal sense) but for me it does conjure up visual imagery of a small, quick, nimble person running in circles around a large, slow, lumbering person who's trying in vain to catch them. The person running in circles is clearly outperforming the latter ;)