Phrasal verbs

run …

The full list of 20 words in this set. Open any word for its pronunciation, collocations, a band 8 sentence and the mistakes Vietnamese learners make.

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20 words

  1. 1

    run throughphrasal verb/rʌn θruː/

    to practise or rehearse; to go over something in detail; to use up (money) quickly

    Let's run through the presentation once more before the interview.

  2. 2

    run up (a bill)phrasal verb/rʌn ʌp/

    to cause an amount of debt or bills to increase

    They ran up a huge phone bill while travelling abroad.

  3. 3

    run the gamutphrasal verb/rʌn ðə ˈɡæmət/

    to include or experience the whole range of something

    Student opinions ran the gamut from enthusiastic to deeply sceptical.

  4. 4

    run up tophrasal verb/rʌn ʌp tuː/

    to approach somebody quickly; (as noun phrase 'run-up to') the period of time immediately before an event

    She ran up to the author after the talk and asked for a selfie.

  5. 5

    run up againstphrasal verb/rʌn ʌp əˈɡeɪnst/

    to encounter problems or opposition

    The project ran up against strong local opposition.

  6. 6

    run againstphrasal verb/rʌn əˈɡɛnst/

    to compete against someone in an election; to be in opposition to something

    She decided to run against the incumbent mayor in the next election.

  7. 7

    run the risk (of)phrasal verb / idiomatic verb phrase/rʌn ðə rɪsk əv/

    to expose oneself to the possibility of something bad happening; to be at risk of

    If you ignore safety rules, you run the risk of serious injury.

  8. 8

    run backphrasal verb/rʌn ˈbæk/

    to go back to a place, usually quickly or briefly

    I ran back to the store because I'd left my wallet there.

  9. 9

    run contrary tophrasal verb/rʌn kənˈtræri tuː/

    to be opposed to or not in agreement with something

    The new report runs contrary to earlier findings.

  10. 10

    run dryphrasal verb (intransitive)/rʌn draɪ/

    to become empty or no longer provide something (often water or a supply)

    After months without rain the river finally ran dry.

  11. 11

    run onphrasal verb/rʌn ɒn/

    to continue for longer than expected (talk, speech); or to be powered by (a type of fuel)

    The discussion ran on for nearly two hours.

  12. 12

    run short ofphrasal verb/rʌn ʃɔːt əv/

    to not have enough of something; to be running low on supplies or resources

    If current consumption continues, the city will run short of clean water by summer.

  13. 13

    run the numbersphrasal verb/rʌn ðə ˈnʌmbəz/

    to calculate, analyse figures, or do the necessary number-crunching

    Before we decide, we need to run the numbers to see if the project is viable.

  14. 14

    run afterphrasal verb/rʌn ˈɑːftə/

    to chase someone or to pursue a goal or opportunity

    He ran after the bus but missed it.

  15. 15

    run behindphrasal verb/rʌn bɪˈhaɪnd/

    to be delayed or later than planned (often about a schedule or deadline)

    The project is running behind schedule because of bad weather.

  16. 16

    run out onphrasal verb/rʌn aʊt ɒn/

    to abandon somebody, especially someone who depends on you

    He ran out on his family when the children were still small.

  17. 17

    run into the groundphrasal verb (idiom)/rʌn ˈɪntə ðə graʊnd/

    to use or repeat something so much that it becomes exhausted, ineffective, or boring

    The TV show was interesting at first but the producers ran it into the ground with endless sequels.

  18. 18

    run fromphrasal verb/rʌn frəm/

    to avoid dealing with something or to flee away from someone or something

    Many people run from difficult conversations.

  19. 19

    run offphrasal verb/rʌn ɒf/

    to leave quickly/escape; or to make copies quickly; or (of a machine) to produce

    He ran off when he saw the police.

  20. 20

    run off withphrasal verb/rʌn ɔːf wɪð/

    to take something or someone away suddenly, either stealing or eloping

    The pickpocket ran off with my phone before I noticed.

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