to  give   somebody  a run for one's money
give
gɪv
giv
somebody
ə
ē
a
rʌn
ran
run
for
wʌnz
vanz
<i>one's</i>
mʌni
mani
money

Definition & Meaning of "give somebody a run for one's money"in English

to give somebody a run for one's money
01

to challenge or compete with someone in a way that surprises or impresses others 

to [give] {sb} a run for {one's} money definition and meaning
Idiom
Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "give someone a run for their money" and when to use it?

The idiom "give someone a run for their money" is believed to have originated from horse racing, where a horse that is expected to win easily is challenged by another horse that runs just as fast and puts up a strong fight. Today, the idiom is often used in a figurative sense to describe a situation where someone competes with or challenges another person, organization, or team, and is so good that they make them work hard to win.

Examples
The young player gave the champion a run for his money. 
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