running scared
Panicked and retreating
Running scared describes a state of fearful anxiety, typically when someone feels threatened by competition, pursuit, or impending failure.
The phrase often applies to politicians facing tough reelection battles or businesses losing market share to rivals.
Despite the word "running," the expression emphasizes the emotional state of fear rather than literal flight—someone running scared may be working frantically to avoid defeat rather than actually fleeing.
The incumbent has been running scared ever since the polls tightened.
- afraidExperiencing dread or worry
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- huntedSought to capture
- jitteryAnxiously restless
- white knuckleCausing tense fear
fearful · cold sweat · fleeing · panicked · terrified · deer in headlights · alarmed · scaredy cat · escaping · anxious · evading · retreating · fight or flight · persecution · worried · recoiling · cowering · tail between legs
running scaredstanding ground
Refusing to yield position
standing one's ground · holding firm · standing tall · digging in · standing fast
running scaredcool as a cucumber
Extremely calm and composed
calm and collected · unflappable · composed · poised · keeping one's cool
running scaredsitting pretty
In favorable circumstances
in the driver's seat · in control · coasting · on top · ahead of the game
runs, runner, runners, runny, overrun, scare, scares, scared, scaring