run off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (Intransitive):
- To leave quickly or suddenly, often in a secretive or unauthorized manner.
- To flow away or be carried off by a liquid, typically referring to water or other fluids.
- (Of a contest) To be decided by a final, additional round or match to break a tie.
Verb (Transitive):
- To produce copies of a document using a photocopier or similar machine.
- To cause someone or something to leave or be driven away.
- To write or recite something quickly and easily.
Examples of Usage
Intransitive Verb:
- The cashier ran off with the day's earnings. (He left secretly, taking the money.)
- During the storm, the rainwater runs off into the gutters. (The water flows away.)
- The election was so close it had to be run off. (A final election was held to decide the winner.)
Transitive Verb:
- Could you run off twenty copies of this report, please? (Make twenty photocopies.)
- The dog ran off the squirrels from the bird feeder. (The dog chased the squirrels away.)
- She can run off a poem from memory in seconds. (She can recite it quickly.)
Advanced Usage
"to run off at the mouth": To talk excessively or indiscreetly.
- He tends to run off at the mouth when he's nervous, sharing too many details.
"to run off with (someone/something)": To elope with a lover or to steal something and flee.
- He ran off with his secretary, causing a scandal.
- A customer ran off with a valuable painting from the gallery.
Variants and Related Words
Runoff (noun): A final race, election, or contest held to decide a winner after a tie. It can also mean water from rain or snow that flows over the ground.
- The mayoral race will be decided in a runoff next month.
- Agricultural runoff can pollute rivers.
Runaway (noun/adjective): A person who has run away; something that is out of control.
- The police searched for the runaway teenager.
Synonyms
- Flee, escape, abscond: (For leaving secretly)
- Elope: (For running away to get married)
- Photocopy, duplicate: (For making copies)
- Dispel, chase away, drive off: (For forcing to leave)
Related Phrasal Verbs
Run off with: To steal something or elope with someone.
- He ran off with the company's funds.
Run off to: To go quickly to a place.
- She ran off to catch the last bus.
Related Idioms
Run off one's feet: To be extremely busy.
- During the holiday sale, the staff were run off their feet.
Run off the rails: To go wrong or out of control.
- After the manager left, the project ran off the rails.
Verb
- decide (a contest or competition) by a runoff
- reproduce by xerography
- run off as waste
- The water wastes back into the ocean
- run away secretly with one's beloved
- The young couple eloped and got married in Las Vegas
- force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
- Drive away potential burglars
- drive away bad thoughts
- dispel doubts
- The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers
- leave suddenly and as if in a hurry
- The listeners bolted when he discussed his strange ideas
- When she started to tell silly stories, I ran out
- run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
- The thief made off with our silver
- the accountant absconded with the cash from the safe