Variations of "To Run"

The Oxford English dictionary defines "to run" as to "move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time." There are a lot of other meanings and idiomatic uses of "to run," however, which are commonly used and with which you should make yourself familiar. 

 

We will have young people to run the island.

Caption 48, Bishop Stanley - Island Cherries

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Here "to run" means "to operate," in the sense of "to run a business." 

 

No, I'm not going to run for president.

Caption 46, Entertainment Weekly - The Obamas Answer Kids' Adorable Questions

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If you "run" for a political position, it means you are campaigning to win an election.

 

When your oil is running out, could you imagine doing the next film.

Caption 62, Fast & Furious 5 - Opening night in Cologne

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The phrase "to run out" of something means your supply is getting low.

 

But President Bush's team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running.

Captions 19-21, Barack Obama - on Trump Presidential Victory

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The phrase "to hit the ground running" is a metaphor that means "to take immediate action." Here you can see another metaphor using "run", albeit here as a noun:

 

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run

There's still time to change the road you're on.

Captions 1-2, Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

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The phrase "in the long run" means "eventually" or "after a long period of time."

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Further Learning
Go to this page and learn some other uses of the verb "to run," as well as searching for the term "run" on Yabla English.

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