or [take a risk]{v. phr.} To be open to danger or
loss; put yourself in danger; be unprotected. •/A baseball umpire wears a
mask and chest protector so he won’t run the risk of being hit by the ball./
•/Billy takes a risk of being hit by a car when he runs into the street
without looking./ •/I was afraid to run the risk of betting on the game./
Compare: TAKE A CHANCE.
[run around in circles]
{v. phr.} To waste time in repetitious
movements; be confused. •/There was such a crowd in the lobby that I ran
around in circles trying to find my group./
[run around]
or [chase around]{v.}, {informal} To go to
different places for company and pleasure; be friends. •/Tim hasn’t been to a
dance all year; with school work and his job, he hasn’t time to run around./
•/Chuck and Jim chase around a lot together./ — Often used with "with".
•/Ruth runs around with girls who like to go dancing./ Compare: GO AROUND,
HANG AROUND.
[run around like a chicken with its head cut off]
See: RUN AROUND IN
CIRCLES.
[run a temperature]
{v. phr.} To have a body temperature that is above
normal; have a fever. •/Jimmy didn’t look ill, although he was running a
temperature./ •/We took the baby to the doctor because he was running a
temperature./
[run a tight ship]
{v. phr.} To run an organization with a firm hand,
with strict rules and regulations. •/Our dean of the college runs a very
tight ship; he tolerates no mistakes./
[run away]
or [run off]{v.} To leave and not plan to come back; go
without permission; escape. •/Many times Tommy said he would run away from
home, but he never did./ •/The guards in jail make sure that none of the
prisoners run away./ Compare: GET AWAY.
[run away with]
{v.} 1a. To take quickly and secretly, especially
without permission; steal. •/A thief ran away with Grandma’s silver
teapot./ Syn.: MAKE OFF. 1b. To go away with; elope. •/Mary said that if
her parents wouldn’t let her marry Phil, she would run away with him./ 1c. To
take hold of; seize. •/The boys thought they saw a ghost in the old house
last night; they let their imagination run away with them./ Compare: GET THE
BETTER OF. 2. To be much better or more noticeable than others in; win easily.
•/Our team ran away with the game in the last half./ •/The fat comedian
ran away with the TV show./ Compare: STEAL THE SHOW.
[run circles around]
also [run rings around]{v. phr.} To show that
you can do a task much better than; do better than (someone) very easily.
•/In spelling, Ruth could run circles around Barbara any day./ •/Frank
ran rings around the other boys on the basketball team./