B1idiompoliticsIELTS-friendly
run for office
USUK
to try to be elected to a political position
Mainly American. British English usually says 'stand for election' or 'stand for Parliament'. You can also 'run for mayor/president'.
In context
After twenty years as a teacher, she decided to run for office.
He ran for office three times before he finally won a seat.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office