Expressions with word run

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The following idioms and expressions use the verb ‘run’. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help to understand these common idiomatic expressions with «run.» 

Dry Run

(noun) a trial of something, a rehearsal of something before it happens

I think we should make a few dry runs before we give the presentation.
Let’s do just one more dry run before we give it a try!

In the Long Run

(prepositional phrase) eventually, over time

Many people find that they actually do want to have children in the long run.
In the long run, we’ll be able to win the contract and keep his business.

Make a Run for It

(verb phrase) to run as quickly as you can through the rain or other bad weather, to try to escape

It’s pouring done rain. Let’s make a run for it and get to the car.
The thieves made a run for it, but the policemen were able to catch up and arrest them.

Make Someone’s Blood Run Cold

(verb phrase) to frighten someone so badly they feel a chill of anticipation of the worst

Seeing her makes my blood run cold. I wish she would leave.
His blood will run cold if he hears that story.

Get off to a Running Start

(verb phrase) to start a project or event quickly and efficiently

If we do our research, we’ll get off to a running start.
I think this semester has gotten off to a running start. 

Run Around in Circles

(verb phrase) waste time, not progress in what you want to do

It feels like we’re just running around in circles.
It took a few days of running around in circles before I took care of everything.

Run a Fever

(verb phrase) have a temperature that is very high

We should go to the emergency room as she’s running a fever.
I think I might be running a fever. Could you get a thermometer?

Run a Tight Ship

(verb phrase) manager very well and efficiently with everyone knowing their place

I like to run a tight ship, so get ready to work!
She runs a tight ship over at Buy More Stuff Inc. 

Run a Temperature

(verb phrase) have a slightly elevated temperature, not as severe as run a fever

The baby is running a temperature.
Use this thermometer to check if you’re running a temperature. 

Run Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

(verb phrase — idiomatic) go crazy, act without any sense

Stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off and tell me what happened!
She ran around like a chicken with its head cut off when she heard the bad news. 

Run for It

(verb phrase) try to escape

Run for it! The cops are coming!
He decided to make a run for it and sprinted to his car.

Run in the Family

(verb phrase) be a characteristic that is common in one’s family

Musical talent runs in my family.
I think his ability with children runs in the family. 

Run Into a Stone Wall

(verb phrase) not be able to progress through a situation

We ran into a stone wall when we tried to get a building permit.
Don’t ask for a raise now. You’ll run into a stone wall. 

Run out of Gas

(verb phrase) not have any more gas in your car

We’re going to run out of gas soon. We’d better stop.
He ran out of gas and had to walk three miles to the closest gas station. 

Run Someone Ragged

(verb phrase) make someone very tired because you push them to do too many things

Her son run her ragged when he was over the holidays.
She says her boss runs everyone ragged at her place of employment.

Run Something Up

(verb phrase) to charge something, to make a bill

Peter ran his clothes up on his Visa card.
He’s run up quite the bill at the local tavern. 

Still Waters Run Deep

(idiomatic phrase) people who are calm are very wise

Just listen to him for a while. Still waters run deep.
Remember still waters run deep. It might take some time to figure out. 

Running out of time? If you can only watch one English video today, make sure it’s this one! I will teach you five very useful expressions with the word run. You will learn the expressions: run into, run out of, run against, run behind, and run by. Want to improve your English? This is the lesson for you!

SUBTITLES:

0:00:02 Hey, everyone. I’m Alex. Thanks for clicking,and welcome to this lesson on expressions
0:00:07 with «run». Today, we’re going to look atfive expressions that use the word «run» and
0:00:13 look at the meaning of the expressions as wellas some sentences that use them. So we’re
0:00:19 going to look at the meanings and some contextfor each one. A lot of these are phrasal verbs,
0:00:25 so let’s have a look, and we’ll startwith the first one, which is «run into».
0:00:31 So the sentence says, «I ran into my cousinon the bus.» Now, again, you can «run into»
0:00:38 someone or something. But specifically, whenyou «run into someone», this means that you
0:00:45 meet them by accident. Okay? So to «run into»is to meet by accident. Now, what I mean when
0:00:58 I say «by accident» is you were not expectingto see this person. So if you run into a person
0:01:05 on the bus, it’s like, «Oh, hey! I didn’texpect to see you here.» You can run into
0:01:12 people everywhere. We do this all the time inour lives. If you are shopping at the grocery
0:01:18 store, maybe you run into your sister, yourbrother, your mother, a friend, a classmate.
0:01:24 So think of places that you can meet peopleunexpectedly, by accident. You can run into
0:01:30 people on the metro, the subway, the train,the bus — anywhere in public. And you can
0:01:37 — again, you can use this in the past tense,in the present tense, in the future. The future
0:01:42 is a little weird. It’s like — you couldsay, «I hope to run into you there at the
0:01:48 concert» for example. Okay?
0:01:51 The next one says «to run out of something.» Sothe «s/t» means «something». Now, the sentence
0:01:59 is, «We’re running out of juice.» So if youlive with someone, whether you’re married
0:02:05 or you have a roommate, and you look in therefrigerator and you see the juice is almost
0:02:11 finished — so if you «run out of something»,it means that you use it until there is no
0:02:18 more left. You have finished all of it. Soto «run out of something» — «to use until
0:02:27 finished». Now, I used the example of juicebecause this is an expression that is commonly
0:02:37 used with food items in your refrigerator.So you can say, «We ran out of milk», or «we
0:02:45 ran out of bread.» We ran out of juice.» Avery common thing that we run out of is gas
0:02:53 in your car as well. So you can say, «I’mrunning out of gas.» Or you can also be «out
0:03:00 of something». So you can also say, «We areout of gas», or «We are out of juice.» «We
0:03:07 are out of milk», for example.
0:03:10 Okay. «To run behind.» So the sentence says,»Sorry. I’m running a little behind.» Now,
0:03:19 what do you think of when you think of «runningbehind»? Okay. You’re not with the person
0:03:25 in front of you; you are behind them. So ifyou’re «running behind», essentially, you
0:03:31 are «running late», so you’re not on schedule.Okay? So «to run behind», «to not be on schedule»
0:03:43 — essentially, «to be late». You know, if youhave a meeting with a friend and you call
0:03:50 them and you say, «Sorry. I’m running a littlebehind», this means, «Something happened to
0:03:57 make me late, and I’m going to be five minuteslate — ten minutes late.» And you can even
0:04:03 give a time for how long you’re running behind.So you could say, «Sorry. I’m running behind
0:04:09 by ten minutes», or «I’m running behind byfive minutes.» Something like that. Okay?
0:04:15 The next one is «to run against someone orsomething». The sentence says, «Obama ran
0:04:23 against McCain in 2008.» So we’re talkingabout a presidential election that occurred
0:04:30 in politics. And what do you think this means?If you know anything about the presidential
0:04:37 elections in the United States, that Obamawas in opposition to John McCain in 2008.
0:04:45 So they were running against each other likea race. So to «run against someone» means
0:04:52 to be in opposition to them. Now, this is anexpression that is very specific to politics.
0:05:00 So you can say, «Hey, who is he? Or who isshe running against in the next election?»
0:05:08 So one more time, it means «to be in opposition.Sorry for my B there. It’s a little fancy.
0:05:20 Now, again, you can also «run against something»,specifically, I think of the word «time».
0:05:27 I say, «I’m running against time.» You know,time is always going to win, and if you’re
0:05:33 doing a project, you could say, «I’m runningagainst the clock. I’m running against time.
0:05:39 I’m in opposition to timeor the clock.» Okay?
0:05:43 The last one is «to run something by someone».So the example sentence says, «Could you run
0:05:51 this by Mark first?» Now, if you have an ideafor a presentation, for example, if you’re
0:05:58 working in a group and you’re talking with oneof your partners and there’s a third partner
0:06:05 in the group, but the third partner is nothere right now, and you talk about, you know,
0:06:12 an idea with your partner and you say, «Okay.This sounds like a good idea. However, I want
0:06:19 to get Mark’s opinion on this idea first,our third partner who is not here.» So if
0:06:26 you «run something» — the «something» isusually an idea, okay? If you «run something
0:06:32 by someone», it means that you’re tellingsomeone something to get their opinion. So
0:06:38 you say, like, «Okay. This sounds good, but Iwant to run it by this person first because
0:06:44 they need to know, and I want their opinionon this subject.» Okay? So «to run something
0:06:51 by someone» — «to tell someonesomething to get their opinion».
0:07:05 Now, you can also use this expression if you’re,like, surprised at the news that someone gives
0:07:11 you and you don’t believe them 100 percent.So if someone says something shocking and
0:07:17 you say, «Whoa. Could you run that by me again?»Okay? So this means, «Could you tell me that
0:07:25 one more time because I didn’t understand. Idon’t believe you.» Sometimes, you weren’t
0:07:30 listening, so you can say, «Sorry. I wasn’tpaying attention. Could you run that by me
0:07:36 again?» Okay?
0:07:38 All right, guys. So from the top, we’ve «runinto». «To run into» means to meet someone
0:07:43 unexpectedly or by accident in public. «To runout of something» is to use all of something
0:07:50 until it is finished, until there is nothingleft. And one more quick note, you can also
0:07:55 run out of abstract things. So you can say,»I am running out of patience», or «I ran
0:08:01 out of patience.» «To run behind» is to notbe on schedule, to be a little late. «To run
0:08:07 against someone» is to be in opposition tosomeone in politics or also to be in opposition
0:08:15 to something like time or the clock. And finally,»to run something by someone» is to tell someone
0:08:23 your idea or something to get their opinionon it because you’re not sure 100 percent,
0:08:31 you know, how they’regoing to feel.
0:08:33 So if you want to test your understanding of thismaterial, you can do the quiz on www.engvid.com.
0:08:39 And don’t forget to subscribe to myYouTube channel. I’ll see you soon. Bye.

Learn Five English Expressions

Today you will learn 5+ expressions (and 2 bad jokes.) Learn English expressions to do with the word RUN: run out of time, run errands, to run a red light, in the long run and on the run. Hope you enjoy today’s episode

Links Mentioned

[122] Talk About An Outdoor Activity – IELTS TOEFL Speaking Question

Learn With Me

Transcript

Hey guys, you are listening to the Short and Sweet episode of the English Made Simple show, this is episode number 123, number one hundred and twenty-three, numero ciento veintitrés.

Welcome amigos y amigas, my name is Milena form www.englishmadesimple.net and you are listening to another episode of the English Made Simple Show.

I hope you enjoyed the last episode, where we learnt how to talk about an outdoor activity and there was an example from IELTS that I shared in that episode, IELTS is that English exam that we love so much. IELTS is awesome, I love it. No I don’t, but you know what, it’s something that we have to do.

I gave you homework in the last episode, I said think about how to answer the question: Describe an outdoor activity you like to do. If you are new to the show, please go back and listen to the last episode – everything will start to make sense.

I will post this question inside the Facebook group called English Made Simple – it’s an exclusive group for EMS listeners – be sure to join and I will also share some tips to help you think about answering this question.

Ok, you know what guys, let’s keep it short today. I talk too much, so much that I always run out of time. I exceed my own rule of 5 minutes for these type of episodes haha. These episodes are called Short and Sweet in 5minutes more or less because I always go over time. And the last short and sweet episode was 9 minutes haha – I am not timing myself obviously. There are no exams here, I don’t need to time myself obviously.

Alright guys, I said something: To run out of time – can you guess what this means? It implies there is no time left, in Spanish this would be similar to – el tiempo se esta acabando. To run out of time.

And that was your first expression for today amigos y amigas.

Well you know what they say, the rules are made to be broken.

People really do say that. People really say that. Rules are made to be broken. It just gives people excuse to break the rules.

There are rules everywhere, every country would have some sort of rules, regulations and laws. People normally live by these rules so they can live together in harmony – I am not turning all political on you today – don’t worry – I am not getting political. I am getting to my point very soon.

So what happens when you break rules? Not the English Made Simple Rules – they are trivial compared to some other rules out there in the world, out in the wild, out in the concrete jungle.

Well, imagine you steal money from a bank – that’s a big No-No. Don’t do it, but imagine if you did steal the money, then the police will be after you. They will be chasing you and you will end up being on the RUN.

You will be on the run from (the) police. If someone is on the run they are trying to avoid being captured.

That was your second expression right there. To be on the run. People who commit crimes and are trying to escape the police, you would say they are either on the run or on the loose – another expression there. They are trying to avoid being captured and going to jail. In Spanish this is called fugados o en fuga.

We have 3 more expressions to learn amigos y amigas. The next expression:

Expression Number 3

TO RUN ERRANDS = to go outside and do the necessary tasks which are often really boring, boring tasks that must be done. Some tasks that must be done! This is hacer trámites in Spanish. To run errands.

For example:

I am busy on Friday, I have to run some errands – which means I need to go to the bank, post office, dry cleaners and supermarket. Sometimes all at the same time haha
Ok I am not going to the bank to steal the money from the bank haha I am just going to do some paperwork. Let’s call it paperwork. Haha hopefully there are no police officers listening to the show.

Let’s move right along.

Expression number 4

IN THE LONG RUN = this is an expression we use when we want to imply that our efforts will pay off in the far future, not immediately but sometime in the future.

A synonym for this expression would be: Eventually.

For example, Going for a 10-minute run every week may not seem much, but it will be good for me in the long run.

(I should go for an 11-min run instead!)

Expression number 5

TO RUN A RED LIGHT = means breaking a road rule and not stopping at a red light – traffic light, but instead continue driving. Driving right through the red light and of course this is illegal. It is illegal.

Well, I can personally relate to this – I ran a red light twice in my life, and I know I did this because I got a ticket! I got a fine. In Spanish the word FINE is ‘parte o multa.’ [I use FINE as a noun here.]

I had to pay $400 which is a lot of money. A lot of money!

No wonder people rob banks hahah ok ok nobody is robbing a bank here, it was a bad joke. I keep mentioning it for some reason hahah

I learnt my lesson and will not run a red light again. If there are any police officers listening to the show, I promise I will not run a red light again.

To run a red light – pasar con luz roja.

And that’s it amigos, we are going to wrap up for today.

We have learnt 5 expressions using the word RUN. And as you can see I can only count till 5, after that I lose count.

To lose count is another expression and it means to forget the next thing that needs to be done in the sequence. Like, first expression, second expression and then go like – oops I what’s the next number I lost count. Just like that. And that was your 6th expression. I didn’t lose count this time, yeeey.

And amigos, Elvis has left the building – the show has come to an end. This is your 7th expression haha it never ends. Elvis Presley has left the building.

Remember guys, you can listen to the EMS show via YouTube, Soundcloud, iTunes, Podcast Republic and the English Made Simple website. Get all the transcripts from the website.

It’s been a pleasure amigos y amigas, you’ve been an amazing audience as usual, and I shall see you next time. If you would like to improve your English don’t forget you can go to my website to see how you can learn English with me and start speaking English today. You’ve been jamming with Milena. Until next time, hasta la proxima!