Meanings
present singular third person runs the gauntlet · participle present running the gauntlet · past ran the gauntlet · alternative run the gantlet · alternative run the gantlope · alternative run the gauntlope
- idiomaticTo undergo a series of tests or challenges.
Run the gauntlet north and south March on up to the cannon's mouth And say I can do any goddamn thing I want
1985, J. G. Thirlwell, “Anything (Viva!)”, in Nail, performed by Scraping Foetus Off the WheelSynonyms: pass the pikes
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo undergo a series of tests or challenges.
Origin
From a corruption of run the gauntlope, run the gantelope. More at gantlope.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish juosta kujanjuoksua
- juosta kujanjuoksuato undergo a series of tests or challenges
French affronter, braver
- affronterto undergo a series of tests or challenges
- braverto undergo a series of tests or challenges
- endurerto undergo a series of tests or challenges
Hungarian bírálat(ok) pergőtüzében áll, állja a támadásokat
- bírálat(ok) pergőtüzében állto undergo a series of tests or challenges
- állja a támadásokatto undergo a series of tests or challenges
Polish podejmować wyzwanie, podjąć wyzwanie
- podejmować wyzwanieto undergo a series of tests or challenges
- podjąć wyzwanieto undergo a series of tests or challenges
Spanish atravesar la tormenta
- atravesar la tormentato undergo a series of tests or challenges
Cite this entry
run the gauntlet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gauntlet
“run the gauntlet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gauntlet. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “run the gauntlet,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20the%20gauntlet.
Source: run the gauntlet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.