Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
coming up on the rail
English answer:
catching up
Added to glossary by
Gabor Kun
Aug 2, 2007 05:07
16 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term
coming up on the rails
English
Marketing
Sports / Fitness / Recreation
football
"Marseille are ***coming up on the rails*** while PSG and Monaco are confident they can improve on a poor 2005-06."
Responses
| 3 +9 | catching up |
CJG (X)
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Responses
+9
18 mins
Selected
catching up
I believe this is based on a horse racing term - coming up on the rails means gaining on the leader, close to the inside rail
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Note added at 22 mins (2007-08-02 05:30:45 GMT)
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You could also say gaining ground
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Note added at 22 mins (2007-08-02 05:30:45 GMT)
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You could also say gaining ground
Peer comment(s):
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David Hollywood
16 mins
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Jack Doughty
37 mins
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LJC (X)
40 mins
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kmtext
2 hrs
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Alfa Trans (X)
4 hrs
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Ken Cox
: but shouldn't it be 'coming up on the rail'? 'on the rails' can be found even on UK sites, but IMO it is mistaken.
4 hrs
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You may well be right, Ken. 'Inside rail' is also frequently used. I'm only a Grand National punter!
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Elena Aleksandrova
4 hrs
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Els Spin
: Yep. And for Ken: on the railS = functioning in a normal or regulated way AND in a position on the racetrack nearest the inside fence, according to the OED.
8 hrs
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writeaway
: advantage of being native-we don't have to check the OED for such idiomatic terms
12 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you."
Discussion