What does ''to run the gauntlet'' mean?

Question

I been looking up on the Internet for the definition of it, but no clear detail or examples.

Answer 1

Running the gauntlet is a phrase meaning "to endure hardship or criticism from many sources at once" or "to endure a prolonged test". Often, to run the gauntlet implies a sort of hazing or initiation: "He had to run the gauntlet like all the other newbies, but he's matured into a solid member around here."

This phrase comes from a military punishment of bygone days. Those soldiers or sailors who disobeyed orders or committed other minor infractions would be stripped to the waist and made to run between two ranks of men, all armed with cudgels, switches or knotted cords. This ordeal was no doubt as harrowing as it sounds. Originally, the term was to run the gatloppe (many variant spellings exist: gantloppe, gantlop, gatlop and so forth). Gatlopp is a Swedish term meaning "a running course" or "street race" (the first part of the word is related to our English gait and also gate in the British sense of a concourse or path).

The English-speakers took this phrase and ran (or loped) with it. Slowly, the unfamiliar term gatloppe became gantlope, then the more familiar spelling of gauntlet (some writers prefer the spelling gantlet). The first use of this phrase being used figuratively was in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops To Conquer (1773). By the early 19th Century, the phrase had been standardized in English to its familiar form.

from:http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1470268

Answer 2

Run The Gauntlet

Answer 3

Here's what my dictionary says: a former military punishment in which the offender ran between two lines of men, who struck the offender with clubs, whips, etc. while passing. -- run the gauntlet. (1. undergo such punishment. 2. suffer a barrage of problems, criticism, etc.)
So basically to run the gauntlet means to go through something that could have some tough obstacles and not be a smooth passing.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What does ''to run the gauntlet'' mean?
I been looking up on the Internet for the definition of it, but no clear detail or examples.

Answer 5

In "olden times", a gauntlet was set up by lining men with weapons (whips, clubs etc) in a line or some times in two lines facing one another. The offender was sent running down the line with the weapons flying at him. If he lived, his sentence was served as punished; however, usually wounds inflicted in this manner would kill the offender if not immediately, then within a few days. That is the original definition.

good luck

Answer 6

The third answer above is correct about the Indians. These days, however, it usually refers to someone walking through a crowd of people who want to talk to you or shake your hand, ask pointed questions, etc. "The plaintiff had to run the gauntlet of reporters before entering the Court House."

Answer 7

running through the gauntlet way back was when a person had to run through a passage of fellow soldiers lined up on the left and right, while trying to get struck as little as possible... really to toughen up or get punished

Answer 8

It was described in one of Fennimore Cooper novels. Indians would make someone run down a row of Indians with weapons on both sides and they would beat the person. The victim had to run fast.

Answer 9

IT'S A VERY BAD THING IF ONE IS IN THE MILITARY.

Answer 10

Did you already read this?:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fustuarium

or this definition is short & to the point:
To expose oneself to hostile treatment or criticism.

taken from: http://www.allwords.com/query.php?SearchType=3&Keyword=Gauntlet&goquery=Find+it!&Language=ENG