Give (someone) a run for his/her/your/their money

[svoysredychuzih]

- to compete very well against someone so that it is hard for them to defeat you
- to make it difficult for (someone) to win a game or contest by trying hard and playing or performing well
Though they lost, they gave last year's champions a run for their money.
- составить хорошую конкуренцию (кому-л.)

I think you'd have given your father a run

Comments

[colored_way]

То есть, деньги тут могут быть и ни при чем?

[svoysredychuzih]

Да, выходит, что так.

[svoysredychuzih]

Вот, нашел, изначально всё-таки деньги были при чём:

But the literal origin of the phrase comes from horse racing. To want a run for your money is to want a horse that you have placed a bet on to participate in the race. Sometimes a horse is withdrawn from a race after bettors have already placed money on it; those bettors did not get a run for their money.

Conversely to give someone a run for their money is to give a good race (even if you don't win) in return for their backing. This latter usage also suggests challenging the other horses in the race; hence its contemporary figurative meaning

[colored_way]

Кто бы мог подумать. Этимология она такая этимология.