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Miriam
He ran the whole gamut of political gambits but in the end he had to run the gauntlet of ridicule
I came across the word gambit and the phenomenon that people mix up gambit and gamut and for instance say "run the gambit" instead of "run the gamut". I find the articles about it very interesting and wanted to share them, just in case there's someone else who's also interested in this topic.

Run the gambit?
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2017/09/gamut-gambit.html

'Gamut' and 'Gambit' (and 'Gauntlet' Too). Know when to use (or run) each.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/gamut-and-gambit-and-gauntlet-too

I also find it fascinating that we have equivalent expressions in German that both have the same literal and figurative meaning. "Gambit" is an opening move in chess, a conversation starter as well as a tactic/clever plan. In German a move in chess is "ein Schachzug" but we can also use it for a tactic (the word "Gambit" also exists in German but is only used for an opening chess move in which you intentionally sacrifice a pawn). "Gamut" is the whole range of musical notes as well as the whole range of range of things that can be included in something. In German we can use the word "Skala" for both meanings.

The second article also threw in "to run the gauntlet" as this may also be mixed up with "to run the gamut", even though this has a total different meaning. I think it's interesting that the "gauntlet" in "to throw down the gauntlet (in German: den Fehdehandschuh werfen) and the one in "to run the gauntlet" (Spießrutenlaufen) are two different words and unrelated words, one derived from the Old French "gantelet" and the other from the Swedisch "gatlopp".

How common are gambit, gamut and gauntlet? Do you use these expressions? Do you think "to run the gambit" is wrong or do you think it's acceptable because it has been in use for quite some time (you can see examples in the first link). Are there equivalent expressions in your native or target languages?

Comments · 5

1
I think "run the gambit" is fine, as long as you're trying to say "commence the tactic". To me, and I believe most dictionaries agree, the word gambit has a certain feeling of risk to it. I don't associate gambit with a first move, I associate it with a risky move.

I have used gambit, gamut and gauntlet in conversation and I've been teased for it! That's ok. I'll throw down my gauntlet in front of anyone who believes we should abandon a whole gamut of words just because they're obscure. We may lose a few people, but to me, it's an acceptable gambit.
0
You could play a gambit in chess. It is an opening where one side sacrifices material for an attack. It would often be a proper noun, but wouldn’t have to be. Morphy occasionally played the King’s Gambit. He enjoys playing gambits. Some people think that declining gambits gives you a psychological edge. Otherwise, I would not use “gambit” with “play” and definitely not with “run”. Their gambit is to contact the sellers immediately and offer to put down a deposit while pretending to be very interested in buying. But they are just fishing for information they can use. ‘Gauntlets’ can be thrown down and picked up (one meaning) or run (a different meaning). I wouldn’t use. “Gamut” I would use. But more likely as “the whole gamut”. “Run the gamut” sounds too annoyingly cute for my taste, but not wrong.
0
For all it's worth, I have used all three.

However, I "play a gambit", "run the gauntlet", "see/hear/experience/... the whole gamut".
0
This is a great question.
Americans use these words, but most of us don't know what they mean, haha.
We generally use them as part of expressions that we never examine.
(We know the meaning of the complete expression, but if you asked us to explain either word, we would have a hard time.)

Also, to "run a gambit" sounds like something a criminal or con-man would do, haha.
0
"play the gambit" = how I say it, for starting a clever tactical opening move at the start of a situation. You hear it used in political situations, in ever changing politically changing UK. I Also know it refers to the first move of a chess game sacrificing one pawn to gain an advantage. Almost the first thing I was taught when I played chess for a while as a teenager.

"Run the gamut" = I use extremely rarely to refer to somebody "running the show" or "running the whole show" which are are informal colloquially ways of saying the same thing, I think.

"Running the Gauntlet" or "To run the Gauntlet" I use and associate with a risky situation, with a small degree of overlap with "to play a gambit" if the gambit is considered to be risky or riskier than just a 50/50 chance of success or it is obvious that if the gambit backfires the player losses everything or a lot, in terms of things like reputation, wealth, integrity, honour, job loss.
Other than that I use "run the gauntlet" for competitive games and sports or dangerous combats.

Plus there is the colloquialism to "throw down the gauntlet" presumably from medieval joisting times.

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