Run off – phrasal verbs with RUN

Phrasal verbs – Run off

Run is a verb that is used in many situations, most dictionaries have 2 or 3 pages explaining its different uses.

I saw John in the street, he told me that his brother was in hospital because he had been run over . When I got home there was water everywhere because the bath had run over and ruined all the ceiling of the living room below. I hope that repairing that won’t run up a big bill.

Run off can be used with the following meanings:

1. Escape from:

• The man heard some boys break a window, when he went outside they ran off before he could talk to them.
• If someone tried to hit me I would run off very quickly

2. Duplicate, make copies:

• The teacher ran off enough copies for all the students.
• The boxes are very easy to make, we will soon run off 50.

3. Make someone leave an area:

• The farmer runs the summer campers off his land every summer.

4. Run of my feet – have a lot of work.

• Mary has got to send out a big order by tomorrow, now she is run of her feet putting all the material in boxes.
• John is ill today so we are all run off our feet trying to do his work as well as our own.

For more Phrasal Verbs go to the index

Phrasal verb – run out

Vocabulary Index for other vocabulary