phrasal verb · informal

run around

/rʌn əˈraʊnd/RUN·a·ROUND

speakingtask1

be busy doing many small tasks; go from place to place running errands

Examples

I've been running around all morning getting supplies for the event.

Stop running around and sit down — we need to plan.

She was running around after her kids all day.

Band 8 sentence

I was running around all week organising volunteers, so I welcomed a quiet weekend.

Collocations

  • run around getting supplies
  • run around after someone

Word family

run around phrasal verbran around pastrunning around gerund

Common mistakes

be busyrun around

walk aroundrun around

Say it for a higher band

5be busy6rush about7+run around

Synonyms

rush about

Easily confused

rush about

I spent the morning rushing about to prepare for the guests.

Related words

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In run …

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