Idioms and Expressions with 'Run'

By Kenneth Beare

The following idioms and expressions use the verb 'run'. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with 'run'. 

Note: If you see ‘ED:’ below it is an addition by the editor (Bob Taylor) and will represent either another meaning of the expression or…it might be another expression entirely.

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. 
Ed: It can also mean to get very tired.

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. 

Ed: Run amok is an expression meaning to go crazy as in ‘The prisoners are running amok’.

Ed: Run down has a couple of meanings: 1)  to catch an escaped prisoner or criminal. “The police finally ran the suspect down behind the bank.”
And 3) to be very tired. “Bill is looking really run down. I wonder if he had problems we don’t know about?” 
 
Ed: Run Over 1) to run over something with your car or bike, ”I accidentally ran over the neighbour’s cat when it dashed out in front of my car.”


2) To check as in"Can we run over the procedure again? I am still not clear on a couple points."

Ed: Run out 1) to be missing something you need (as in for cooking). Here it can be used two ways. 1) "We have run out of sugar" and 2) "Could you run out and get some sugar?"

Source: http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyreference/a/game_expresions.htm?utm_campaign=list_esl&utm_content=20161206&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exp_nl&utm_term=list_esl