Dictionary

run like a dry creek en · VERB

Etymology

A pun on two senses of run: to flow (as in "running water") and to stand for election.

Meanings

1. (US, colloquial, qualifier:simile) To run for political office with little chance of success.
   • The last of the six candidates, Stephen Dorrell, did not even get off the starting-blocks. His campaign ran like a dry creek from day one. 1997, New Statesman, page 18:
   • One Illinois delegate said, "I saw Lodge on television today, and he'll run like a dry creek." 2009, W. J. Rorabaugh, The Real Making of the President:
   • The Scripps-Howard newspapers, which are supporting Eisenhower, criticized Ike for "running like a dry creek." 1952, LIFE, volume 33, number 10, page 49:
2. (US, colloquial, qualifier:simile) To run (in various senses) badly or not at all.
   • The League knew little about lobbving and its cash flow ran like a dry creek. Small and big business were against a consumer cooperative bank bill. 1985, Jay Richter, Where credit was due: the creation of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, page 24:
   • The days stretch ahead, dull and tedious, and the camp seems to be doing nothing, going nowhere, running like a dry creek. 1989, David L. Moore, Dark Sky, Dark Land:
   • Carlyle had a brief trial in the big leagues with the Red Sox and the Yankees. But he ran like a dry creek and was weak of arm. 1956, American Mercury, volume 83, number 390, page 153:

Forms

Relateds

could not get elected dogcatcher · run for the exercise