1
general::
run over (sth)
to continue after the expected finishing time
• I'm afraid we're starting to run over time , so could you make your speeches short please., run sth off
[ M ]
1. If you run off copies of something, you print them
• [ + two objects ]: Could you run me off five copies of this, please?, run away with sb
RIDE
1. If an animal or machine that someone is riding runs away with them, they lose control of it and it carries them away
• Her horse ran away with her., run (sth) down
[ M ] LOSE POWER
2. If a machine or device such as a clock or battery runs down, it loses power, or if you run it down, you cause this to happen
• These batteries can be recharged when they run down.
• You'll run the battery down if you leave your car lights on., run sb/sth down
[ M ] FIND
3. to find someone or something after following or searching for them for a long time
• I finally ran Mr Green down in/to a house in the country., run through sth
EXAMINE
1. to look at, examine or deal with a set of things, especially quickly
• We ran through the list, but none of the machines seemed any good.
• I'd like to run through these points/questions with you, if that's okay, because you've made several mistakes., run (sth) into sth/sb
to drive a vehicle into an object or a person in another vehicle by accident
• I had to brake suddenly, and the car behind ran into me.
• He ran his motorbike into a tree., run away with sth
informal
to win a competition or prize very easily
• She ran away with four first prizes., run sth by sb
informal
to tell someone about something so that they can give their opinion about it
• Would you run your idea by me one more time?, run sth up
[ M ] DEBT
1. If you run up a debt, you do things which cause you to owe a large amount of money
• She stayed two weeks at the hotel and ran up a bill which she couldn't pay., run into sth
REACH AN AMOUNT
2. to reach a particular cost or amount, as a total
• The repairs will probably run into thousands of pounds., run sb/sth over
[ M ]
If a vehicle or its driver runs over someone or something, the vehicle hits and drives over them
• I'm afraid we've just run a rabbit over., run sth off
[ M ]
2. to quickly and easily write something that is usually slow or difficult to write, such as a piece of poetry or music
• Kate can run off a sonnet in half an hour on any subject you like., run away
LEAVE
1. to leave a place or person secretly and suddenly
• He ran away from home when he was only 12.
• Malcolm and my sister are planning to run away together to get married., run sb/sth down
[ M ] HIT
2. to hit and injure a person or animal with a vehicle, especially intentionally
• Two masked men on motorbikes tried to run me down., run around after sb
informal
to do a lot of things for someone else, especially when they should be able to do more for themselves
• I seem to spend most of my time running around after those kids., run sth up
[ M ] FLAG
4. UK to raise a flag into the air on a pole or mast
• They've run up a British flag on the roof., run across sth
informal
to experience a problem when you are not expecting to
• We've run across a slight problem with the instruction manual., run on
1. If an event runs on, it continues for longer than expected
• The game/speech/discussion ran on for hours., run across sb
informal
to meet someone you know when you are not expecting to
• I ran across several old friends when I went back to my hometown., run against sb/sth
to oppose or have an effect that is not helpful towards someone or something
• Luck is really running against you tonight!
• Public opinion is currently running against fox hunting., run sth up
[ M ] VALUE
3. to make the price or value of something increase
• Heavy buying ran the price of stocks up higher than expected., run after sth
to try very hard to get or achieve something
• She has spent her life running after fame and fortune., run out
3. If a document or official agreement runs out, the period of time for which it lasts finishes
• My passport runs out next month - I must get it renewed., run over
If liquid runs over, it flows over the edges of something, because there is too much of it
• The water/The bath is running over - quick, turn the taps off., run through sth
USE UP
3. to use up an amount of something quickly
• It took him just a few months to run through all the money his father left him., run over/through sth
EXPLAIN
2. to examine a document or subject with someone in order to explain it or to get their help or their opinion on it
• I'd like to run over the main points of the article with you.
• I'm really struggling with this maths - could you run through it with me later?, run on
2. If time runs on, it seems to pass quickly
• Time 's running on - let's get this job finished soon!, run into sth
EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS
1. If you run into problems, you begin to experience them
• We ran into bad weather/debt/trouble., run to sth
SIZE
1. to reach a particular amount, level or size
• The new encyclopedia runs to several thousand pages., run after sb
informal disapproving
to try to start a sexual relationship with someone
• He's always running after women., run around
to be very busy doing a lot of different things
• I'm exhausted - I've been running around all morning., run out
2. If a supply of something runs out, all of it has been used or it is completely finished
• The milk has run out.
• My patience is beginning to run out., run off
to leave somewhere or someone suddenly
• You can't run off (home) now, just when I need you!
• My wife has run off with another man., run sth in
[ M ] UK ( US break sth in )
If you run in a vehicle, you use it carefully and slowly for a short time when it is new, so that you do not damage its engine. , run sth up
[ M ] MATERIAL
2. to quickly make something such as a piece of clothing from material
• [ + two objects ]: I can run you up some curtains in a few hours, if you want., run off with sth
informal
to leave a place or person suddenly after having stolen something from them
• He ran off with $10 000 of the company's money., run away
AVOID
2. to avoid dealing with a problem or difficult situation
• She accused him of running away from his responsibilities., run away with sb
FEELING
2. If a feeling or idea runs away with you, you cannot control it and it makes you behave stupidly
• Sometimes my imagination runs away with me and I convince myself that they are having an affair., run through sth
EXIST
2. If a quality runs through something, it is in all parts of it
• Melancholy runs through all her stories.
• Racism runs right through society., run to sth
ACTIVITY
3. If your taste or skill runs to something, that is the type of thing that you enjoy or can manage to do
• I doubt if his musical taste runs to opera.
• I'm afraid my cooking skills don't run to fancy cakes and desserts., run after sb/sth
to chase someone or something that is moving away from you
• Why do dogs run after cats?
• She ran after me to hand me some papers I'd dropped., run on sth
If a machine runs on a particular type or supply of power, it uses that power to work
• Some calculators run on solar power., run up against sth
to experience an unexpected difficulty
• The community centre scheme has run up against strong local opposition., run out
1. to finish, use or sell all of something, so that there is none left
• I've run out of milk/money/ideas/patience.
• "Have you got any milk?" "Sorry, I've run out.", run into sb
to meet someone you know when you are not expecting to
• Graham ran into someone he used to know at school the other day., run out on sb/sth
to leave someone you are having a relationship with or something you are responsible for, without warning and usually causing problems
• She ran out on him two months ago, leaving him to look after their two children., run sb/sth down
[ M ] CRITICIZE
1. informal to criticize someone or something, often unfairly
• He's always running himself down., run (sth) down
[ M ] REDUCE
1. UK to reduce a business or organization in size or importance, or to become reduced in this way
• They claim that the government is secretly running down the Youth Training Schemes., run over/through sth
REPEAT
1. to quickly say or practise something
• I'll just run over what's been said so far, for latecomers who missed the first speakers.
• She quickly ran over her speech before going on-stage.
• The director wants to run through the whole play this morning., run sb out
[ M ]
If you are run out in cricket, a player on the opposing team throws the ball at the wicket you are running towards and hits it before you can reach it, and your turn as batsman ends
• Their best batsman was run out for (= having scored) 99., run to sth
MONEY
2. to have enough money to buy something or (of an income, etc.) to be enough to buy something
• I can lend you £1000, but I can't run to more than that.
• My salary won't run to foreign holidays.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
verb move quickly on foot ADV. fast, quickly John can run very fast. She ran quickly downstairs. | blindly | headlong | away, downstairs, home, off, out, upstairs VERB + RUN begin to, turn and/to | want to He just wanted to run away and hide. PREP. down She turned and ran blindly down the street. | into He ran headlong into an enemy patrol. | out of He ran out of the house. | to, towards, up, etc. manage sth ADV. efficiently, properly, well | badly a badly-run company | professionally | jointly The programme will be jointly run with NASA in the US. | personally | privately | independently The student union is run independently of college authorities. | in parallel, in tandem The two experiments are run in parallel. VERB + RUN try to Stop trying to run my life for me. | manage to | help (to), help sb (to) work ADV. efficiently, smoothly The engine was running very smoothly. PREP. on Our car only runs on unleaded petrol. happen ADV. smoothly Things ran very smoothly for a while. | concurrently, consecutively He was given two twelve-month sentences to run concurrently. buses/trains ADV. regularly Local buses run regularly to and from the town. | late The train was running late, as usual. PREP. between, from, to, noun on foot ADJ. five-mile, etc. | fun, sponsored The local council has organized a two-mile fun run for charity. | training | record-breaking The Ethiopian is aiming to produce his second record-breaking run of the week. VERB + RUN go for, have Let's go for a run before dinner. | go on I'm going on a sponsored run tomorrow. | break into When he saw me he broke into a run. | take He took a run at the wall and just managed to clear it. PREP. at a ~ She took the stairs at a run. | on the ~ (= escaping by running) The prisoners have now been on the run for three days. PHRASES make a run for it (= escape by running) of success/failure ADJ. bad, disappointing, disastrous, dismal, poor | excellent, fine, good, remarkable, successful | unbeaten, winning | record-breaking VERB + RUN enjoy, have Spurs have had a winning run of ten games. | begin | end Manchester United have finally ended their run of victories. RUN + VERB begin | end PREP. ~ of a run of good/bad luck of a play/film ADJ. long | short | eight-week, six-month, etc. | successful | sell-out VERB + RUN have The play had a long run in the West End. | begin They play began its run last June. | end RUN + VERB begin | end way things are/happen ADJ. common, general, ordinary, usual She was very different from the general run of American movie stars. In the normal run of things the only exercise he gets is climbing in and out of taxis. PHRASES against the run of play Villa scored in the 15th minute against the run of play (= although the other team had seemed more likely to score). in cricket/baseball ADJ. home VERB + RUN get, make, score They've got another run! He's only made four home runs all season. | be on, have Our team is on 90 runs. attempt/practice ADJ. dry, dummy, practice, trial
Oxford Collocations Dictionary