run for the money
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
TO HAVE A, to have a start given in with a bet. As 20 to 1 against Doncaster, with a RUN given. See P.P. To have a RUN FOR ONE’S MONEY is also to have a good determined struggle for anything.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “run for the money” mean?
TO HAVE A, to have a start given in with a bet. As 20 to 1 against Doncaster, with a RUN given. See P.P. To have a RUN FOR ONE’S MONEY is also to have a good determined struggle for anything.
Is “run for the money” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.