Idioms with "Run": A Guide for ESL Students

English is full of figures of speech that mean absolutely nothing but nonsense to many English language learners. These idioms using the word "run" are no exception. Learn these idioms to help you expand your ever-growing English vocabulary.

Hit and Run

Examples: The police are looking for a hit-and-run suspect. The accident was a hit and run.

Meaning: The person who caused the car accident left the scene of the accident and did not accept responsibility for it.

To Be on the Run

Examples: She was on the run from the police. He had to be on the run for a week to escape capture.

Meaning: to try to escape; to avoid capture, often by the police or from someone trying to chase someone.

Run (Someone) Crazy

Examples: That girl and her squeaky clarinet are about to run me crazy. That guy is annoying and runs him crazy.

Meaning: to irritate or annoy someone.

Give (Someone) a Run for (His/Her) Money

Examples: The competitor gave the champion a run for his money. That guy really gave her a run for her money.

Meaning: stiff competition; a close race

In the Long Run

Examples: Studying will benefit you in the long run. In the long run, saving will help you have a better retirement.

Meaning: Ultimately; finally

Make (Someone's) Blood Run Cold

Examples: The screechy sound of his voice made her blood run cold. The horror of the devastation from the storm is enough to make anyone's blood run cold.

Meaning: bad feeling from being scared or frightened

Run Like Clockwork

Examples: After replacing a part, the engine ran like clockwork. The meeting was well organized, and it ran like clockwork.

Meaning: to proceed smoothly, without any problems

Eat and Run

Examples: "I've got a meeting in five minutes," he said. "I've got to eat and run." We have to eat and run tonight because we have to get to the store before it closes.

Meaning: to eat a meal quickly and leave because one is in a hurry

English has many more "run" idioms. These are some of the more commonly used ones. Practice one or two a day until you feel they are part of your regular vocabulary. If you are not sure if you should use it in a particular context, ask a native English speaker for advice. Join a language exchange website such as My Language Exchange or ITalki to talk online via text and voice chat with a native English speaker who wants to learn your native language from you in exchange for sharing English pointers with you. Practice speaking English and listening to it as much as possible to be more confident in your use of idioms.

Reference:

Your Dictionary: Run-Idioms and Phrases