"Be in/out of the running" is a phrase that is commonly used in the context of contests, competitions or elections. When someone is "in the running," it means that they still have a chance to win or succeed. However, when they are "out of the running," it means that they no longer have any hope of succeeding or winning. There are several synonyms that can be used instead of "be in/out of the running." Some of the common ones include "have a chance/not have a chance," "be a contender/not be a contender," "be an option/not be an option," "be on/off the list," "be in/out of contention." These synonyms can be used interchangeably depending on the context of the sentence. In conclusion, these alternatives are useful for making language more diverse and interesting.