= (1) to be violent, (2) to excel in a marked degree; to run in = (1) to arrest, and (2) to introduce; to run in one's head = (1) to bear in mind, (2) to remember; to run into the ground = to carry to excess; to run it (American cadets') = to go beyond bounds; to run like mad = to go at the top of one's speed: Fr. ventre à terre; to run low = (1) to diminish, (2) to be of little account; to run mad after = to have a strong desire for; to run off = (1) to repeat, (2) to count; to run off with = (1) to elope, (2) to carry beyond bounds; to run off the straight (see Straight); to run on = to keep going: spec. to chatter; to run on all fours (see Fours); to run on pattens (see Pattens); to run on the hirl = to gad, to loaf (q.v.); to run one's face (or shape) = to obtain credit; to run one's head into a noose = to fall into a snare; to run one's tail = to live by prostitution; to run one's week (Am. Univ.) = to trust to chance for success; to run one way and look another = to play a double game; to run out = (1) to end, (2) to have had one's day, (3) to be lavish; to run out on = to enlarge on; to run over = (1) to count, (2) to call to mind, (3) to examine, (4) to describe, and (5) to sum up; to run riot = (1) to be violent, (2) to exaggerate, (3) to have plenty, (4) to be active, (5) to disobey; to run rusty (see Rusty); to run sly (see Sly); to run smooth = to be prosperous; to run thin = to back out of a bargain; to run to = (1) to risk, (2) to suffice, (3) to afford; to run together = to grow like; to run to seed = (1) to age, (2) to deteriorate; to run through = (1) to be uniform, (2) to pervade, (3) to be present, (4) to kill, and (5) to be prodigal; to run up = (1) to increase, (2) to build, and (3) see Runner-up; to run up an account = (1) to get credit, (2) get into debt, and (3) to charge; to run up bills = to obtain goods with no intention of paying; to run upon = (1) to quiz, (2) to require; to run to waste = (1) to empty, (2) to fritter away; to run wild = (1) to romp (q.v.), and (2) to riot; by (or with) a run = suddenly; a run for one's money = a good time in exchange for a certain expenditure of energy and cash; run off one's legs = (1) exhausted, (2) bankrupt; a near run = (1) a close finish, (2) a bare escape, (3) cheek by jowl; run after = in repute; run down = seedy, poor. Also proverbs and sayings, 'To run through thick and thin'; 'His shoes are made of running leather'; 'To run a wild-goose chase'; 'The Coaches won't run over him' (i.e., 'He's in gaol'); 'He that runs may read' (said of things unmistakeably plain); 'To run where the devil drives'; 'Run tap, run tapster' (Ray: 'of a tapster that drinks so much himself and is so free to others that he is fain to run away'); 'To hold with the hare and run with the hounds' (Heywood, 1546). [Many of these colloquialisms are found passim in English literature, and, though fitly mentioned in this place, do not require extended illustration. Therefore, only early or striking quotations are given.]
