{v.} 1. To make a hole through, especially with a sword;
pierce. •/The pirate was a good swordsman, but the hero finally ran him
through./ 2. To spend recklessly; use up wastefully. •/The rich man’s son
quickly ran through his money./ Syn.: GO THROUGH(4). 3. To read or practice
from beginning to end without stopping. •/The visiting singer ran through his
numbers with the orchestra just before the program./
[run to]
{v. phr.} To approximate; reach. •/It has been estimated
that the casualties will run to over 300,000 killed by cholera and starvation
in the crowded refugee camps./
[run to seed]
See: GO TO SEED.
[run true to form]
{v. phr.} To follow a usual way; act as expected;
agree with how a person usually acts. •/The little boy’s actions ran true to
form. He bothered his mother until she gave him his way./ Compare: PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
[run up]
{v. phr.} 1. To add to the amount of; increase. •/Karl ran
up a big bill at the bookstore./ 2. To put together or make hastily; sew
quickly together. •/Jill ran up a costume for the party on her sewing
machine./ 3. To pull (something) upward on a rope; put (something) up
quickly. •/The pirates ran up the black flag./
[run up against]
See: UP AGAINST.
[run wild]
{v. phr.} To be or go out of control. •/The students ran
wild during spring vacation./ •/The new supervisor lets the children run
wild./ •/The violets are running wild in the flower bed./ Compare: RUN
RIOT.
[run with the hare and hunt (ride) with the hounds]
{v. phr.} To appear
to support both parties in a conflict; to conduct things in ambiguous ways.
•/Critics accused the king of running with the hare and hunting with the
hounds./
[running commentary]
{n. phr.} A continual series of remarks. •/My
chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while he
is giving me a rubdown./
[rush]
See: BUM’S RUSH.
[Russian roulette]
{n.} A game of chance in which one bullet is placed
in a revolver, the cartridge cylinder is spun, and the player aims the gun at
his own head and pulls the trigger. •/Only a fool would risk playing Russian
roulette./
[rust away]
{v. phr.} To disappear gradually through the process of
rust or corrosion. •/If you refuse to paint those metal bars on the window,
they will soon rust away./
[rustproof]
{adj.} Free from rusting or corrosion; permeated with
anti-rust chemical agents. •/My new watch is rustproof and waterproof and I
can wear it while swimming or taking a shower./
S
[saber rattling]
or [sword rattling]{n.} A show of military
strength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. •/The dictator
marched his troops and tanks along the border of our country and did some saber
rattling./
[sack]
See: GET THE SACK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVE THE SACK at GIVE THE
BOUNCE(2), HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or LEAVE HOLDING
THE SACK.
[sack in/out]
{v.}, {slang} To go to sleep for a prolonged period
(as in from night to morning). •/Where are you guys going to sack in/sack
out?/
[sacred cow]
{n.} A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed
at, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. •/Motherhood is a sacred
cow to most politicians./ •/The bold young governor had no respect for the
state’s sacred cows./ •/Television respects too many sacred cows./