idiom / phrasal expression · neutral
give someone the runaround
UK/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə ˈrʌnəraʊnd/US/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə ˈrʌnəˌraʊnd/give· some·ONE· the· RUN·a·round
speakingtask2
to treat someone in a way that avoids giving them a straight answer or proper service
Examples
“When I complained, the company just gave me the runaround.”
“Customers often get the runaround when policies are unclear.”
“Don't expect a quick refund — they might give you the runaround.”
Band 8 sentence
“Consumers complained that the bank gave them the runaround when they requested clarification about fees.”
Collocations
- give someone the runaround with
- receive/get the runaround
Word family
runaround nounrun verb
Common mistakes
give me runaround→give me the runaround
give me a run around→give me the runaround
Say it for a higher band
5stall→6delay→7+give someone the runaround
Synonyms
stall
Related words
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