end run
Low (in everyday speech); Medium (in business/political contexts in North America)Informal to semi-formal; primarily used in American English.
Definition
Meaning
An attempt to achieve a goal indirectly or by evading obstacles or established rules, rather than confronting them directly.
Originally an American football play where a player runs around the end of the opponent's line. The term is now widely used metaphorically to describe any clever or deceptive strategy to bypass opposition or circumvent regulations to reach an objective.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a dual nuance: it can imply strategic cleverness or, more negatively, an unethical circumvention. The context determines whether it's seen as a shrewd tactic or a questionable maneuver.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is strongly American in origin and frequency. In British English, the metaphorical use is understood but far less common; alternative phrases like 'workaround' or 'side-step' are more typical.
Connotations
In American usage, it often has strategic, competitive, or political connotations. In British contexts where used, it may sound like an Americanism and retain its sports-derived imagery.
Frequency
Very frequent in American business, legal, and political journalism. Rare in comparable British contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to make/do an end run AROUND [OBSTACLE]to try/pull off an end runVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “End run around the rules”
- “Pull an end run”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company made an end run around the supply chain bottleneck by sourcing materials locally.
Academic
The researcher attempted an end run around the ethical review board, which led to significant controversy.
Everyday
He tried to do an end run around the waiting list by calling the manager directly.
Technical
In networking, a packet filter can be configured to block end runs around the firewall.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The legislation was designed to end-run the usual parliamentary scrutiny. (Note: hyphenated verb form is rare in UK)
- They attempted to end-run the regulations.
American English
- The lobbyists tried to end-run the committee by going straight to the governor.
- He end-ran the standard approval process.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; no standard examples)
American English
- (Extremely rare; no standard examples)
adjective
British English
- An end-run strategy was considered but rejected. (Rare)
- The end-run play failed.
American English
- It was a brilliant end-run move that secured the deal.
- They developed an end-run solution to the licensing issue.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The player scored with a great end run.
- He made an end run to avoid the big problem.
- The manager performed an end run around company policy to get the project started.
- Their clever end run allowed them to launch the product ahead of schedule.
- The senator's amendment was a transparent end run around the campaign finance laws.
- By acquiring the smaller firm, they executed a strategic end run around their main competitor's patent portfolio.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rugby/football player (American football) running around the END of the defensive line to score, instead of running straight through it. This visualises avoiding the main obstacle.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVING A GOAL IS SCORING IN SPORTS; RULES/OBSTACLES ARE DEFENSIVE LINES; AVOIDING CONFRONTATION IS MOVING AROUND THE SIDES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct translation like "конечный бег" or "бег конца." The term is purely idiomatic.
- The concept is similar to "обходной манёвр" or "игра в обход," but with a specific strategic/sports nuance.
- Do not confuse with "endgame" (финальная стадия/эндшпиль).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb without articles (e.g., 'He end run the committee' is incorrect; correct: 'He made an end run around the committee.').
- Using it in purely physical contexts outside of actual sports commentary (e.g., 'I did an end run to the shop' is unnatural).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'end run' LEAST likely to be used naturally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily in American English and often hyphenated ('to end-run'). It is less common than the noun form 'make an end run.'
It is context-dependent. It can be seen as positive (clever, strategic) or negative (sneaky, unethical). The phrase itself is neutral, but the speaker's tone and context provide the valuation.
The metaphorical use is understood, especially in business or sports contexts, but it is perceived as an Americanism. Brits are more likely to use 'workaround,' 'sidestep,' or 'find a way around.'
A 'shortcut' simply implies a quicker way. An 'end run' specifically implies evading an obstacle, rule, or opposition, often with a sense of strategy or cunning. An end run might not be shorter, just more circumspect.
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