What Does “Run Like The Wind” Mean? When To Use It

The English language is full of a lot of sayings. Unfortunately, many people have no idea what these sayings mean or where they even came from. Learning this information is a great way to enhance your understanding and use of the English language today.

When someone says a person can “run like the wind” they’re telling you that the person is able to run really fast. For instance, “Sally can run like the wind” means that Sally is able to run really fast. It comes from a similar old expression (“on the wings of the wind”) that’s found in the Bible. 

Meaning of the Simile

“Run like the wind” is a simile that means you should run as fast as you possibly can – as fast as the wind. Of course, nobody actually expects you to literally run as fast as the wind. Nevertheless, this phrase exists because in the olden day’s people literally believed that the wind was the one thing that moved the fastest in the world. However, we now know that light travels much faster than the wind. Obviously, this isn’t something that they were able to measure back then which is why they assumed that the wind moved the fastest.

Some of the other ways that you can say this include:

• barrel
• bolt
• bustle
• dart
• dash
• festinate
• flash
• fly
• hurry
• hasten
• hustle
• quicken
• race
• run
• scoot
• scramble
• scurry
• shoot
• speed
• sprint
• tear
• whisk
• whiz
• zip
• zoom

Other proverbs with a similar meaning include:

• Get cracking
• Get a move on
• Go like lightning
• Go like the wind
• Make haste
• Make time sail
• Shake a leg

Some of the things this phrase doesn’t mean (a.k.a. antonyms) include:

• dally
• dawdle
• decelerate
• delay
• halt
• procrastinate
• rest
• slow
• stay
• wait
• walk

Origin of the Simile

Unfortunately, nobody knows for sure where the simile “run like the wind” originated. However, some people do believe that it originated with early horse racing fans who’d urge their favorite racehorses to “run like the wind.” This charming, old-fashioned expression would make sense when you stop to consider the fact in the days prior to the invention of mechanized vehicles only the wind was able to outrun an animal such as a horse.

There are also some people who say that this expression stems from one that’s found in the Bible. This Biblical saying was “on the wings of the wind.”

Where “On the Wings of the Wind” Originated

“On the wings of the wind” means that something moved as fast as possible in a certain direction. This is found in a few different places throughout the Bible including:

• “He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.” ~ Psalm 18:10 NIV (New International Version)
• “and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” ~ Psalm 104:3 NIV

How to Use Similes

A simile is a type of speech wherein two things are directly compared with one another. In other words, the saying isn’t meant to be taken literally. There are a lot of similes used in writing today including:

• He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
• He is as strong as an ox.
• They fought like cats and dogs.
• This house is as clean as a whistle.
• Watching the show was like watching grass grow.
• You were as brave as a lion.
• Your explanation is as clear as mud.

Usually the word “like” or “as” is used for making the comparison between the two things that don’t seem to be related. However, there’s always some sort of similarity present whether it’s literal or figurative.

Writers use similes in both prose and poetry to do as their Latin name suggests: draw a likeness or parallel. They serve as literary devices that are able to paint a vivid image for readers. For instance, a sports broadcaster may say that a track and field athlete “ran like the wind” when he wants his audience to know how fast they were.

Similes pride themselves on using as few words as possible to help communicate ideas and emphasize attributes. Sometimes they do this through the use of exaggeration. For instance, in the movie “Forrest Gump” Forrest says “My momma always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” In this simile, life is compared to a box of chocolates. When you first stop to think about this, there doesn’t seem to be anything there to link the two ideas together but this phrase really is descriptive in a figurative way. This is because you don’t know what life will hold for you until you experience it, kind of like you don’t know what will be in the center of your candy until you bite into it.

Other Similar Parts of Speech

Metaphors are another type of speech that’s used when comparing different things. The difference between a simile and a metaphor is that similes form their comparison by using the words “like” and “as.” In this way, they highlight the similarities of different things whereas a metaphor makes an implicit comparison. It’s true that both similes and metaphors describe how items resemble one another. They do this by using figurative language that conveys ideas to your imagination.

There’s also what’s known as an “idiom.” These also aren’t meant to be taken literally. There are some expressions that are considered both an idiom and a simile. For instance, “a rolling stone” is an example of both a simile and an idiom. This is because it can be taken both literally (a stone rolling down the road) and figuratively (someone who doesn’t settle for a long time in a single place). Obviously, this isn’t the case with “run like the wind” though since there’s no way to take it literally.

Similes and Exaggeration

Similes frequently make use of hyperbole (a.k.a. exaggeration). For instance, instead of saying “He runs really fast,” you could say “He runs like the wind.” In this way, a simile doesn’t seem too exaggerated. Figurative language is a great way to add some imagery to your writing so that it becomes more interesting. This is why when an author is struggling to find the exact right words to use in their description they’ll frequently come up with a simile to use.

Why You Should Use Similes

You can find similes being used in all types of writing – everything from journalism to fiction. This is because they’re a creative way to draw attention and clarify what you’re trying to say. It’s great to use similes when you want to give your reader something to imagine while they’re reading. For instance, you’ll find a lot of writers who will compare the main character in their story to an animal or an inanimate object. In doing so you’re helping your reader see something in a different way – a way that’s both fresh and new.

When You Should Use Similes

You can use similes to form a lot of different types of descriptions (e.g. romantic, lovely, scary, dangerous). This is why they’re so commonly used in poetry but they can also be used in speeches, novels, and plays as long as the literal meaning of a word isn’t necessary. This is important because there are some circumstances where you can’t simply say “run like the wind” because the actual speed will make a difference.

Examples of How to Use “Run Like the Wind” in a Sentence

Understanding the phrase will help you understand how to properly use it in a sentence. To ensure that you’re able to use it correctly here are a few examples of sentences you may use the phrase in:

• We ran like the wind only stopping when we finally reached the river.
• We rode like the wind until we reached the edge of the forest.
• With her slim build, she’s able to run like the wind.
• Even though they’re so young, they’re still able to run like the wind.
• The monkey stole my wallet and ran away with it like the wind.
• My goal is to run like the wind to get there first.
• Sun spiders get their name because they’re able to run like the wind.
• Although they’ll come around at election time they’ll run like the wind when it’s time to make a critical vote.
• Something finally clicked in my brain so I started to run like the wind again.

Conclusion

You’ll find a lot of sayings like “run like the wind” in the English language today. While many people have no idea what this saying means or where it originated, you’ll be able to enhance your understanding and use of the English language. This is because you now know that this saying comes from a similar old expression (“on the wings of the wind”) which was found in the Bible. You’ll also know that to “run like the wind” means that a person is running really fast.