Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

In the long run

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "In the long run" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourThe Ubiquitous Essentials collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

The Ubiquitous Essentials

In the long run

In the long run
Over a long period of time; ultimately; in the final outcome or result.
History & Origin

The idiom originally comes from the world of sports, specifically long-distance racing or marathon running, where short-term sprinting tactics matter less than sustained endurance. Over time, it was adopted by economists and writers—most notably by John Maynard Keynes in the 1920s—to describe how systems or investments stabilize and reveal their true value over extended periods.

Examples
Workplace Email

Although upgrading our cloud infrastructure will be expensive this quarter, it will save the company thousands of dollars in maintenance costs in the long run.

Casual Conversation

Don't worry too much about failing this one quiz; if you keep studying every day, you'll pass the course in the long run.

Academic Writing

Research indicates that while implementing sustainable farming practices requires a high initial investment, it significantly improves soil fertility and crop yields in the long run.

News/Media

Market analysts predict that investing in renewable energy stocks will prove highly profitable in the long run, despite current market volatility.

Formal Speech

We must make sacrifices today because a nation that prioritizes education and healthcare will always be stronger and more prosperous in the long run.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. I was late for the meeting, so I had to hurry up and get there in the long run.

B. Buying a high-quality laptop might cost more now, but it will save you money in the long run because it lasts longer.

C. She finished the 100-meter dash so quickly that she won the gold medal in the long run.

D. Please give me the project summary right now because I need to read it in the long run.