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What does "run" mean?

See in a sentence

In addition to the idioms beginning with run, also see beat (run) one's head against the wall; cut and run; dry run; eat and run; end run; go (run) around in circles; great minds (run in the same channel); home run; in the long run; like clockwork, run; make a break (run) for; make one's blood run cold; (run) off someone's feet; on the run; still waters run deep; tight ship, run a; well's run dry. Also see under running.

See run in WNW Idioms

a run for one's money

powerful competition
some satisfaction for what one has expended, as in betting on a near winner in a race

in the long run

in the final outcome; ultimately

in the short run

in the beginning; at first; initially

on the run

running
hurrying from place to place or task to task
running away; in retreat

run across

â

to encounter by chance

run after

to pursue or follow
Informal to seek the company or companionship of

run along

to leave or depart

run around

Informal to be sexually unfaithful; cheat

run away

to flee
to desert one's home or family
to escape and run loose, as a horse

run away with

to depart and take with one; esp., to steal
to carry out of control his enthusiasm ran away with him
1. to outdo greatly all other contestants or performers in
2. to get (a prize, honors, etc.) in this way

run back

to carry (a football) toward the opponent's goal, as after receiving a kickoff

run down

to cease to run, or stop operating, as a mechanical device, through lack of power
to run, ride, or drive against so as to knock down
to pursue and capture or kill
to search out the source of
to speak of slightingly or injuriously; disparage
to lessen or lower in worth, quality, etc.; make or become run-down
to read through rapidly
â Baseball to catch and tag (a base runner trapped between two bases)

run for it

to run in order to escape or avoid something

run in

to include or insert, as something additional
Informal to make a brief stop or visit at a place
â Slang to take into legal custody; arrest
Printing to make continuous without a break or paragraph

run into

to encounter by chance
to run, ride, or drive against so as to hit; collide with
to add up to (a large sum of money)
also run to

run off

â to print, typewrite, make copies of, etc.
to cause to be run, performed, played, etc.
to decide the winner of (a race, etc.) by a runoff
to drive (animals, trespassers, etc.) off or away
to flow off; drain
run away

run on

1. to continue or be continued
2. Printing to continue without a break or new paragraph
to add (something) at the end
to talk continuously

run out

to come to an end; expire or become used up, exhausted, etc.
to force to leave; drive out

run out of

to use up a supply of (something)

run out on

Informal to abandon or desert

run out the clock

â

Basketball, Football to maintain control of the ball in the closing minutes of a game

run over

to ride or drive over as with an automobile
to overflow
to go beyond a limit
to examine, rehearse, etc. rapidly or casually

run scared

Slang to base one's actions upon the possibility or likelihood of failure

run through

to use up, spend, etc. quickly or recklessly
to pierce
run over (sense )

run up

to raise, rise, make, or build rapidly
to let (bills, debts, etc.) accumulate
to sew with a rapid succession of stitches

See run in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

run in place

To go through the movements of running without leaving one's original position.

run interference

To deal with problems or difficult matters for someone else.

run off at the mouth

To talk excessively or indiscreetly.

run off with

To capture or carry off: ran off with the state championship.

run (one's) eyes over

To look at or read in a cursory manner.

run out of

To exhaust the supply of: ran out of fuel.

gas

run out of

/steam

Slang

To exhaust one's energy or enthusiasm.
To falter or come to a stop because of a lack of capital, support, or enthusiasm.

run out on

To abandon: has run out on the family.

run rings around

To be markedly superior to.

run scared

Informal

To become intimidated or frightened.

run short

To become scanty or insufficient in supply: Fuel oil ran short during the winter.

run short of

To use up so that a supply becomes insufficient or scanty: ran short of paper clips.

earth

run to /ground

To pursue and successfully capture: Dogs ran the fox to earth. The police ran the terrorists to ground.

a run for (one's) money

Strong competition.

in the long run

In the final analysis or outcome.

in the short run

In the immediate future.

on the run

a.

In rapid retreat: guerrillas on the run after an ambush.

b.

In hiding: fugitives on the run.

Hurrying busily from place to place: executives always on the run from New York to Los Angeles.

temperature

run a /fever

To have a higher than normal body temperature.

run away with

a.

To make off with hurriedly.

b.

To steal.

To be greater or bigger than others in (a performance, for example).

foul

run

/afoul

of

To run into; collide with: a sloop that had run foul of the submerged reef.
To come into conflict with: a pickpocket who ran foul of the law.

Learn more about run

» run definition

» run synonyms

» RUN abbreviations & acronyms

» run business definition

» run computer definition

» run investment & finance

» run sentence examples

» run quote examples

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