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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary

Runner-up?

0Hello? Anybody to help me with this expression?02br
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00I understand that a runner-up means a person who comes second in a race or competition. What I want to know is why this person is called a runner-"up", instead of other expressions such as a second runner. Is there any special reason the "up" is added to "runner"?0-
  

Top answer

0 My (not too long) research shows there's no clear explanation for the origins of term. Just learn it as it is. 0-

  • 0 My (not too long) research shows there's no clear explanation for the origins of term.
  • Just learn it as it is.
  • 0-
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3 Answers
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0 My (not too long) research shows there's no clear explanation for the origins of term. Just learn it as it is. 0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Marius Hancu12cite10 My (not too long) research shows there's no clear explanation for the origins of term. Just learn it as it is. 12blockquote
10Isn't it amazing how often this advice is so sound! 0-
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Ken Greenwald said:

<1890 “The dog last running with the winner is called the RUNNER UP, because he ran through the races up to the last race without being defeated once.”—in A. R. Starr in Upland Shooting, page 471>

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