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"run out the string" is a baseball term

Posted by Bruce Kahl on August 10, 2003

In Reply to: "Run out the string" posted by ESC on August 10, 2003

: : In the US, "to run out the string" is a metaphor for taking all possible time available to obtain an outcome. It applies where there is a notion of a fixed or set amount of time to do what you can. Does anyone know the background of this expression..........?

: I couldn't find anything in my references. I have heard this expression. It's pretty common.

From a few different sites:

run out the string (vt)
(of a batter) to foul off pitches until the count becomes favorable or until receiving a good pitch to hit.
SYNONYMS: work a deep count, work the count, hang in, hang tough, run the count

Rummy, Cheney and some other DC based gangster/ criminals have been tossing this term around for a while. Such piglets!

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