I can run circles around my cousins in tennis.

[alpacinou]

How common is the idiom "run circles around"? Is it used in everyday English?

Are these correct and natural?

1. I love playing tennis with my cousins. I'm a competitive person and I can run circles around my cousins in tennis. They can get the better of me in every other competition but not tennis.

2. She run circles around her classmates in math and biology. Her grades are always better by a mile.

3. Laura can run circles around her sister when it comes to communicating with people and making new friends.

4. Jim can run circles around his colleagues in programming.

5. He runs circles around me in cooking and baking cakes.

 

[Tarheel]

I understand what you mean, but I would probably use something else in most if not all of them.

For example, for the second one I might say: "She's a natural at math. She's a quick study."

For the third one I might say: "She's more sociable than her sister. She's a natural at making friends."

For the fourth one, perhaps: "He's the top dog in the computer programming department."

 

[emsr2d2]

BrE would use "run rings around someone".

 

[alpacinou]

BrE would use "run rings around someone".

Are these correct and natural?

1. I love playing tennis with my cousins. I'm a competitive person and I can run rings around my cousins in tennis. They can get the better of me in every other competition but not tennis.

2. She run rings around her classmates in math and biology. Her grades are always better by a mile.

3. Laura can run rings around her sister when it comes to communicating with people and making new friends.

4. Jim can run rings around his colleagues in programming.

5. He runs rings around me in cooking and baking cakes.

6. My laptop runs rings around yours. It's a lot faster and more powerful.

 

[Tarheel]

They're OK.

 

[alpacinou]

They're OK.

Thank you.

I hope a British English speaker would also comment.

 

[Rover_KE]

They’re OK.