Running the Show
Sunday
The term “run of the mill,” which now means unremarkable and ordinary originally described the mass-produced products of a weaving mill which had not yet been graded for quality and sorted for pricing. The term also applied to manufactured factory goods, and “run of the mine” had a similar meaning for mined products.
Monday
Something that has gone out of control is often said to have “run amok (or ‘amuck’).” The word first showed up in English in a 1516 book about the inhabitants of Malaysia and Java to describe people within that population called the “Amuco” who were prone to murderous sprees, attacking everyone they encountered. About 2.5 centuries later, Captain James Cook wrote something similar about these individuals: “To run amock is to get drunk with opium… to sally forth from the house, kill the person or persons supposed to have injured the Amock, and any other person that attempts to impede his passage…indiscriminately killing and maiming villagers and animals in a frenzied attack.” By some accounts, possession by evil spirits caused the Amock’s behavior more than opium, but in any case, modern people or plans that “run amok” usually do so more peacefully.
Tuesday
The official distance of a modern-day marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards, a number rooted in both ancient legend and the whims of 20th century royalty. In 490 BC, the Persians invaded Greece, but when the Greeks won an important battle, legend says that a messenger named Pheidippides was tasked with running the 25 miles from the city of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news. Supposedly, he did so successfully, then dropped dead. To honor that dutiful messenger, the marathon’s distance was set at 40 km., or about 25 miles, for the first few modern Olympic games. However, when the 1908 Olympics were held in London, the Queen requested that the the race start on the lawn of Windsor Castle and finish at the royal box in the Olympic stadium. Apparently, this was because she wanted royal toddlers to watch the start from their nursery. This tweak was standardized in 1921, and marathons have been that distance ever since. Historians have some doubts about the ancient Greek “origin story,” though modern marathon runners remain no less impressive.
Wednesday
When people say “give me the run-down” on a certain topic, they’re using (yet another) term with roots in horse racing, which originally meant a “list of entries in a horse race and the odds,” and has been around since the 1930s.
Thursday
You defeat someone decisively if you “run circles around” them. This term originated as “run rings around” and has roots in England in the practice of “hare coursing,” or hunting hares with hounds. When pursued, hares often run circles around the hounds in trying to escape, and hence can evade the dogs if the technique works.
Friday
“Run for the hills” is often used for fleeing generally, but in fact is a reference to fleeing natural disasters like floods and tidal waves by escaping to higher ground.
Saturday
A “bank run” or “run on the bank” is not particularly athletic, but likely stressful. This occurs when a large group of panicked customers believe their bank is about to fail, so they withdraw money while they still can. This phenomena was more common before the FDIC. “It’s A Wonderful Life” included a famous bank run scene, where an exasperated George Bailey had to reason with the panicked crowd.