Running is something many kids do every day. We run during games, at recess, or just for fun. Some people run fast, like a cheetah. Others run steady, like they are on a mission. When someone runs very fast, we say special phrases to show how quick they are. These are called idioms.
Idioms use fun words to say something in a new way. They don’t always mean what the words say, but they help us understand better. In this article, we will learn about idioms that tell us someone is running really fast. These phrases will make reading and talking more fun. Let’s start learning these fast-running sayings together.
Idioms for Running Fast
1. Run like the wind
Meaning: Run very fast
To Provide an Example: She ran like the wind to catch the bus. / He ran like the wind at recess.
Alternative Meaning: Move quickly / Be super speedy
2. Quick on your feet
Meaning: Able to run or move fast
To Provide an Example: Amy was quick on her feet during tag. / The dog is quick on its feet.
Alternative Meaning: Fast mover / Fast thinker
3. Like a bolt of lightning
Meaning: Very fast and sudden
To Provide an Example: He dashed off like a bolt of lightning. / She crossed the yard like a bolt of lightning.
Alternative Meaning: Super quick / Hard to catch
4. Zoomed off
Meaning: Left quickly
To Provide an Example: The kids zoomed off to lunch. / He zoomed off when the bell rang.
Alternative Meaning: Went fast / Moved away quickly
5. Hit the ground running
Meaning: Start running fast right away
To Provide an Example: She hit the ground running at the race. / He hit the ground running after school.
Alternative Meaning: Begin fast / No waiting
6. Ran at full speed
Meaning: Run as fast as possible
To Provide an Example: The boy ran at full speed across the field. / She ran at full speed to the swings.
Alternative Meaning: All-out run / Very fast
7. Flew past
Meaning: Ran by very quickly
To Provide an Example: The dog flew past me. / He flew past his friends on the sidewalk.
Alternative Meaning: Zoomed by / Rushed past
8. Made a dash
Meaning: Ran quickly for something
To Provide an Example: She made a dash for the ball. / He made a dash to the bus stop.
Alternative Meaning: Ran fast / Quick start
9. Took off like a rocket
Meaning: Started running very fast
To Provide an Example: Tim took off like a rocket at the race. / The girl took off like a rocket at gym.
Alternative Meaning: Very quick start / Rushed ahead
10. Ran in a flash
Meaning: Ran very fast and quickly
To Provide an Example: He ran in a flash to the ice cream truck. / She ran in a flash to class.
Alternative Meaning: Super speedy / Blink-and-you-miss-it
11. Gone in a heartbeat
Meaning: Ran away very quickly
To Provide an Example: He was gone in a heartbeat after the bell. / The puppy was gone in a heartbeat.
Alternative Meaning: Disappeared fast / Left quickly
12. Shot off
Meaning: Took off running fast
To Provide an Example: The boy shot off toward the finish line. / She shot off to catch her friend.
Alternative Meaning: Moved fast / Started fast
13. Like a hare
Meaning: Like a fast rabbit
To Provide an Example: He ran like a hare around the yard. / She moved like a hare at recess.
Alternative Meaning: Very fast / Like a bunny
14. Sped off
Meaning: Ran away quickly
To Provide an Example: They sped off to lunch. / She sped off to her classroom.
Alternative Meaning: Left fast / Hurried away
15. Fast as fire
Meaning: Very fast like flames
To Provide an Example: He ran as fast as fire across the grass. / She moved as fast as fire.
Alternative Meaning: Very quick / Rapid
16. Like a cheetah
Meaning: Very fast, like the animal
To Provide an Example: She ran like a cheetah on the track. / He chased the ball like a cheetah.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / Animal speed
17. Off in a flash
Meaning: Left very quickly
To Provide an Example: The kids were off in a flash when the bell rang. / She was off in a flash to play.
Alternative Meaning: Quick exit / Left fast
18. Like wheels on fire
Meaning: Moving very fast
To Provide an Example: He ran like wheels on fire. / She dashed like wheels on fire to get in line.
Alternative Meaning: Fast moving / Rolling fast
19. Took off at top speed
Meaning: Started running as fast as possible
To Provide an Example: The kids took off at top speed during tag. / He took off at top speed in the hallway.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / Fast start
20. Like a blur
Meaning: So fast you can’t see clearly
To Provide an Example: He ran by like a blur. / She was like a blur running past me.
Alternative Meaning: Very fast / Hard to see
21. Fast as a blink
Meaning: Happened really quickly
To Provide an Example: He ran away fast as a blink. / She crossed the field in a blink.
Alternative Meaning: Very fast / Almost instant
22. Ran like the race was ending
Meaning: Ran with great speed and focus
To Provide an Example: She ran like the race was ending. / He ran like the race was ending to the slide.
Alternative Meaning: Full effort / Top speed
23. Like a streak
Meaning: Fast and hard to see
To Provide an Example: The dog ran like a streak across the yard. / He moved like a streak at the playground.
Alternative Meaning: Zooming / Hard to spot
24. Moved like lightning
Meaning: Ran very quickly
To Provide an Example: She moved like lightning during soccer. / He moved like lightning when the gate opened.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / Very quick
25. Shot out the door
Meaning: Left running quickly
To Provide an Example: He shot out the door for recess. / She shot out the door when she saw her mom.
Alternative Meaning: Fast exit / Hurried out
26. Fast as a fox
Meaning: Quick and clever
To Provide an Example: He ran fast as a fox during hide-and-seek. / She was fast as a fox in the hallway.
Alternative Meaning: Sneaky quick / Cleverly fast
27. Zipped by
Meaning: Moved quickly past
To Provide an Example: He zipped by the swings. / She zipped by with her backpack.
Alternative Meaning: Moved fast / Quick dash
28. Hurried like a fire drill
Meaning: Moved quickly, like in an emergency
To Provide an Example: They hurried like a fire drill to line up. / She moved like a fire drill when the bell rang.
Alternative Meaning: Rushed / Quick movement
29. Ran like her shoes were on fire
Meaning: Very fast running
To Provide an Example: She ran like her shoes were on fire. / He ran like his shoes were on fire to the field.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / Hot-footed
30. Flew like a plane
Meaning: Moved smoothly and quickly
To Provide an Example: He flew like a plane down the hill. / She flew like a plane to the gym.
Alternative Meaning: Glided fast / Very quick
31. Sprinted like a champ
Meaning: Ran with strength and speed
To Provide an Example: He sprinted like a champ during P.E. / She sprinted like a champ on the sidewalk.
Alternative Meaning: Strong runner / Speedy
32. Rushed out
Meaning: Left in a hurry
To Provide an Example: He rushed out the door after school. / She rushed out when she heard the bell.
Alternative Meaning: Quick exit / Hurried off
33. Like a breeze
Meaning: Moved lightly and quickly
To Provide an Example: She moved like a breeze across the yard. / He ran like a breeze to the park.
Alternative Meaning: Smooth and quick / Fast without effort
34. Darts off
Meaning: Suddenly runs fast
To Provide an Example: The cat darts off when it hears noise. / He darts off to the playground.
Alternative Meaning: Quick start / Fast dash
35. Ran like the wind was chasing him
Meaning: Ran very fast
To Provide an Example: He ran like the wind was chasing him. / She ran like something was after her.
Alternative Meaning: Rushed / Quick escape
36. Zipped around
Meaning: Ran quickly from place to place
To Provide an Example: He zipped around the classroom. / She zipped around during clean-up.
Alternative Meaning: Fast mover / Active running
37. Like a speeding bullet
Meaning: Extremely fast
To Provide an Example: He ran like a speeding bullet. / She moved like a speeding bullet at gym.
Alternative Meaning: Super quick / Lightning fast
38. Took off like a flash
Meaning: Started running very fast
To Provide an Example: She took off like a flash. / He took off like a flash toward the swings.
Alternative Meaning: Ran quickly / Sudden start
39. Dashed away
Meaning: Ran off fast
To Provide an Example: He dashed away when the bell rang. / She dashed away after snack.
Alternative Meaning: Quick run / Fast movement
40. Like a running river
Meaning: Smooth and steady fast run
To Provide an Example: She ran like a running river on the track. / He moved like a running river at field day.
Alternative Meaning: Smooth fast / Steady speed
41. Out the gate like a horse
Meaning: Started running quickly
To Provide an Example: He was out the gate like a horse when recess began. / She ran out the gate like a horse at the race.
Alternative Meaning: Quick start / Fast beginning
42. Like a rocket on wheels
Meaning: Very fast and hard to stop
To Provide an Example: She ran like a rocket on wheels across the gym. / He moved like a rocket on wheels during tag.
Alternative Meaning: Speedy / Rolling fast
43. Like a flash of light
Meaning: So fast, hard to see
To Provide an Example: He was gone like a flash of light. / She ran like a flash of light to the swings.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / Quick flash
44. Ran like a storm
Meaning: Ran with power and speed
To Provide an Example: He ran like a storm through the leaves. / She moved like a storm across the field.
Alternative Meaning: Fast and wild / Strong runner
45. Like a jet
Meaning: Extremely fast
To Provide an Example: He ran like a jet on the playground. / She moved like a jet down the hall.
Alternative Meaning: High-speed / Zooming
46. Moved like a gust of wind
Meaning: Quick and smooth
To Provide an Example: She moved like a gust of wind past her classmates. / He moved like a gust of wind to the swings.
Alternative Meaning: Light and fast / Breezy speed
47. Flew like Superman
Meaning: Fast and powerful
To Provide an Example: He flew like Superman at field day. / She flew like Superman to lunch.
Alternative Meaning: Hero-fast / Strong and speedy
48. Like a spinning top
Meaning: Ran in circles quickly
To Provide an Example: He ran like a spinning top around the playground. / She moved like a spinning top during dance.
Alternative Meaning: Fast and twirling / Lots of energy
49. Ran like it was a race
Meaning: Ran quickly and with purpose
To Provide an Example: She ran like it was a race to the slide. / He ran like it was a race for lunch.
Alternative Meaning: Fast with focus / Trying hard
50. Like a wildfire
Meaning: Fast and spreading
To Provide an Example: The team ran like a wildfire across the field. / He ran like a wildfire to the gym.
Alternative Meaning: Quick and wide / Spreading fast
Trials for Success: Idioms for Running Fast
- Mia __________ to catch the school bus before it left.
- Jason ran __________ across the field during the game.
- The puppy __________ when it heard the doorbell.
- Emma __________ when she heard the ice cream truck.
- My brother ran __________ during the race at field day.
- Lily was __________ to get her snack first.
- The kids __________ when the teacher said it was recess.
- Noah moved __________ to be first in line.
- Ava ran __________, just like a superhero.
- The boy dashed __________ when he saw the slide open.
- Olivia was __________ during the game of tag.
- The dog moved __________ after the ball.
- He was __________ and I could barely see him.
- The runners were __________ right from the start.
- She zipped around the park __________.
Answer Key
- ran like the wind
- at full speed
- darted off
- made a dash
- like a cheetah
- quick on her feet
- took off like a rocket
- like a flash
- flew like Superman
- in a heartb
- fast as fire
- like lightning
- a blur
- out the gate like a horse
- like a spinning top
Conclusion
Running fast is fun and exciting. People use special phrases to talk about running quickly. These phrases are called idioms. They make our talking and writing more colorful.
Now you know many idioms for running fast. Try using them when you speak or write. It helps others picture what you mean. Keep practicing, and you’ll use them easily just like running like the wind.
