hit-and-run
1. adjective (used before the noun) Guilty of causing a motor-vehicle accident and fleeing the scene so as not to be identified and held responsible. Police are appealing for witnesses to help identify the hit-and-run driver of this morning's fatal accident.
2. adjective (used before the noun) Of, involving, or resulting from a traffic accident in which the person responsible has fled the scene. This one intersection has seen more hit-and-run fatalities than the rest of the state combined.
3. adjective (used before the noun) Involving or relying on swift, effective action followed by rapid departure. There have been more hit-and-run attacks on military bases this month, as dissidents continue to intensify their guerrilla warfare tactics.
4. adjective (used before the noun) In baseball, of, involving, or denoting a play in which a base runner leaves for the next base as soon as the ball is pitched to the batter. The runner managed to steal third base as the ball rocketed down midfield in a beautiful hit-and-run maneuver.
5. noun (not always hyphenated) The act of causing or contributing to a motor-vehicle accident on the road and fleeing the scene so as not to be identified and held responsible. Luckily, a more concentrated police presence near busy intersections has cut down on the number of hit-and-runs over the past two years. No, officer, he left the scene—it was a hit and run!
6. verb (not always hyphenated) To cause or contribute to a hit-and-run. Some jerk decided to hit-and-run our parked car. Our insurance will cover it, but our premium is sure to go up! Using security camera footage, police were able to identify the driver who hit and ran an elderly couple late last night.
7. verb (not always hyphenated) In baseball, to attempt or execute a hit-and-run play. The score was deadlocked the entire game, but when one player hit-and-ran in the last inning she was able to set up the winning run.
(one's) blood runs cold
One becomes seized by an acute and intense sensation of fear, panic, horror, or dread. My blood ran cold when I overheard that a police officer had been asking about me at work. Janet could feel her blood run cold when the murderer she was testifying against walked into the courtroom.
run a temperature
To have an abnormally high body temperature (a fever), which is indicative of or caused by illness. Dan: "How's Pete feeling?" Marshall: "Well, he ran a temperature last night, but he seemed a lot better this morning after some rest." I think I've started running a temperature. Maybe I should go lie down.
run about
1. Literally, to run haphazardly or in different directions in an area. Primarily heard in UK. We took the kids to the park so they could run about for a couple of hours.
2. Figuratively, to be exceptionally busy doing many different tasks or activities, especially in several different locations. Primarily heard in UK. I've been running about all afternoon getting things for Carol's party this evening. I can't wait for the weekend. I've had to run about all week getting little jobs done for my boss, and I'm exhausted!
run amuck
1. To behave or run around in a wild, unruly, out-of-control manner; to be or become crazy or chaotic. We tried to have some organized games for the kids, but they all started running amuck as soon as they got here. The villagers were cleaning up debris for days after the bulls ran amuck through the streets.
2. To become bad or go awry; to get out of control; to go haywire. This whole operation has run amuck. I don't know how we can be expected to finish under the deadline in these conditions.
3. dated To rush around in a violent, murderous frenzy. (Note: This is the phrase's original specific meaning, taken from Malay. "Amuck" is an older alternative spelling of "amok," which is preferred today.) Fueled by alcohol and cocaine, Dave ran amuck when his wife told him she'd been seeing someone else. Luckily, a neighbor called the police when they heard such a commotion.
run (a)round in circles
To waste one's time and energy engaging in trivial, aimless, or futile activities. I tried to get an outline drafted for my thesis, but my ideas were so jumbled in my head that I just kept running round in circles. The committee spent all afternoon trying to come up with a new PR proposal, but they ran around in circles the whole time.
run down the clock
In sports, to protect a lead by using up as much possible time that remains in a game or match without giving the opposing team a chance to score, generally by maintaining a passive or defensive strategy. With just a narrow two-point lead, the home team is trying to run down the clock to hold out for a win. I don't know, Jim, there's a lot of game time left for them to start running down the clock already.
run for the hills
1. To move to higher ground, as in preparation for or in response to a natural disaster. There are bound to be tidal waves after an earthquake like that. We'd better run for the hills!
2. To flee hastily; to clear out or depart quickly. Uh oh, Uncle Jerome's been drinking again. Run for the hills, everyone! The staff all ran for the hills when it was announced that there would be a stock-take at the end of the shift.
run foul of (someone or something)
To be in severe disagreement, trouble, or difficulty with someone or something; to be at odds with someone or something, especially due to disobeying rules or laws. Always look into the laws of any place you visit, or you may end up unwittingly running foul of the local police. Ms. Banks has run foul of this university for the last time. She is no longer welcome here!
run hot and cold
To vacillate between two opposing or starkly different states, opinions, or behaviors. Dan: "So, how are things going between you and Mallory?" Sarah: "Hard to tell. She runs hot and cold one day to the next, so I can never tell how she really feels!" The boss has been running hot and cold about whether or not we're going through with this project. I wish she would just make a decision!
run on empty
1. To be particularly ineffectual, insubstantial, or unsuccessful. The high production value means that the film is visually stunning, but no amount of aesthetic beauty can save a film whose paper-thin plot runs on empty from start to finish. The former president promised quite a lot in his campaign speeches, but his administration ran on empty throughout his time in the White House.
2. To continue to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on empty at this point. We were running on empty by the time our team made it to the championship round.
run on fumes
1. To be especially ineffectual, insubstantial, or unsuccessful. The high production value means that the film is visually stunning, but no amount of aesthetic beauty can save a film whose paper-thin plot runs on fumes from start to finish. The former president promised quite a lot in his campaign speeches, but his administration ran on fumes throughout his time in the White House.
2. To continue to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on fumes at this point. We were running on fumes by the time our team made it to the championship round.
run (one's) own show
To have complete autonomy or authority over something; to do something according solely to one's own inclinations, desires, opinions, etc. You can tell that the manager, so used to running his own show in the office, is finding it hard to adjust to having a boss of his own just a few doors down. The CEO's son really ran his own show in here for the last few years, until he was finally busted for fraud and removed from the company.
run roughshod over (someone or something)
To treat someone or something with marked disdain, brutality, or contempt; to act without regard for the well-being of something or someone. In her ascent to the top of the political ladder, the senator ran roughshod over anyone who stood in her way. This new administration has run roughshod over the political goodwill that the previous president forged with the recent foreign ally.
run (someone) off his or her feet
To make someone work very hard and/or quickly, especially to an exhausting or exasperating degree; to make great demands of someone's time or energy. With the recent reductions in staff, my boss has been running me off my feet lately! Just about every parent on the planet knows how kids can run you off your feet.
run the clock down
In sports, to protect a lead by using up as much possible time that remains in a game or match without giving the opposing team a chance to score, generally by maintaining a passive or defensive strategy. With just a narrow two-point lead, the home team has started to run the clock down to hold on for a win. It seems like a risky strategy, Jim. There's a lot of game time left for them to start running the clock down already.
run wild
To behave or run around in a wild, unruly, out-of-control manner; to be or become crazy or chaotic. We tried to have some organized games for the kids, but they all started running wild as soon as they got here. The villagers were cleaning up debris for days after the bulls ran wild through the streets.
run with scissors
To willfully act in a reckless, foolish, and/or dangerous manner. Alludes to the literal act of running with a pair of scissors in one's hand, which can cause severe injury. I went through a really rebellious phase in high school and made a point of constantly running with scissors, so to speak, as a way of acting out. Jane's daughter has run with scissors so frequently by now that the family doesn't try to keep her under control anymore.
a shiver ran down (one's/someone's) spine
Said when one has experienced an intense feeling of fear, panic, dread, shock, exhilaration, or excitement. A shiver ran down John's spine when he overheard the managers discussing the money he'd stolen from the company safe. A cold shiver ran down my spine at the thought of having to work for another minute in that awful restaurant. When they announced that Sarah would have the chance to meet a movie star as a part of her prize, a shiver ran down her spine.
a shiver ran up (one's/someone's) spine
Said when one has experienced an intense feeling of fear, panic, dread, shock, exhilaration, or excitement. A shiver ran down John's spine when he overheard the managers discussing the money he'd stolen from the company safe. A cold shiver ran down my spine at the thought of having to work for another minute in that awful restaurant. When they announced that Sarah would have the chance to meet a movie star as a part of her prize, a shiver ran down her spine.
run off smell of an oily rag
Of a motor vehicle, to operate with exceptionally good fuel efficiency. Primarily heard in Australia, New Zealand. This trusty little car may not look like much, but she runs off the smell of an oily rag.
run on the smell of an oily rag
Of a motor vehicle, to operate with exceptionally good fuel efficiency. Primarily heard in Australia, New Zealand. This trusty little car may not look like much, but she runs on the smell of an oily rag.
run out of town
To be forced to leave a place, usually due to one's indiscretions or misdeeds. Now that this scandal is public knowledge, I'm afraid that I'm going to be run out of town. When people found out that my grandmother had had an affair while my grandfather was fighting in the war, she was run out of town.