62 Idioms for Running

Running is a simple action. We do it when we play, hurry, or exercise. But the word “run” can also mean more than moving fast. People use it in special phrases called idioms. These idioms have meanings that are different from the words we see. They can be fun and a little tricky to learn.

In this article, we will look at idioms about running. You will see how they are used in daily talk. Some idioms show speed. Some show effort or problems. Learning them can help you understand English better. It can also make your speaking more lively and clear.

Idioms for Running

1. Run out of time

Meaning: No time left.
Other Way to Say: Time is up, no time left
Alternative Meaning: Out of time, too late now
Sentence: We ran out of time before the bell rang.

2. Run away

Meaning: Leave fast.
Other Way to Say: Escape, go away fast
Alternative Meaning: Leave quickly, get away
Sentence: The dog ran away from the yard.

3. Run into someone

Meaning: Meet by chance.
Other Way to Say: Bump into, see by surprise
Alternative Meaning: Meet suddenly, find by luck
Sentence: I ran into my teacher at the store.

4. Run late

Meaning: Be behind time.
Other Way to Say: Be late, behind schedule
Alternative Meaning: Not on time, delayed
Sentence: The bus is running late today.

5. Run fast

Meaning: Move very quickly.
Other Way to Say: Sprint, go quick
Alternative Meaning: Move fast, hurry
Sentence: He can run fast in gym class.

6. Run slow

Meaning: Move not fast.
Other Way to Say: Jog slow, move easy
Alternative Meaning: Take it slow, go gently
Sentence: She runs slow in the race.

7. Run for it

Meaning: Run to be safe.
Other Way to Say: Hurry away, dash off
Alternative Meaning: Escape fast, get safe
Sentence: We ran for it when it started to rain.

8. Run in circles

Meaning: Do the same thing again.
Other Way to Say: Go nowhere, repeat work
Alternative Meaning: Not move ahead, stuck
Sentence: I feel like I am running in circles with homework.

9. Run a race

Meaning: Take part in a race.
Other Way to Say: Join a race, compete
Alternative Meaning: Try to win, race others
Sentence: We run a race at school.

10. Run errands

Meaning: Do small jobs.
Other Way to Say: Do tasks, go do jobs
Alternative Meaning: Help out, do chores
Sentence: Mom asked me to run errands.

11. Run wild

Meaning: Act without control.
Other Way to Say: Act free, be out of control
Alternative Meaning: Be noisy, act crazy
Sentence: The kids ran wild at the park.

12. Run free

Meaning: Move without rules.
Other Way to Say: Be free, roam
Alternative Meaning: Move anywhere, not stopped
Sentence: The horses run free in the field.

13. Run low

Meaning: Almost gone.
Other Way to Say: Nearly empty, almost out
Alternative Meaning: Not much left, little left
Sentence: We are running low on milk.

14. Run dry

Meaning: Have nothing left.
Other Way to Say: Empty out, use up
Alternative Meaning: No supply, finished
Sentence: The well ran dry.

15. Run deep

Meaning: Very strong feeling.
Other Way to Say: Strong feeling, deep care
Alternative Meaning: Last long, feel big
Sentence: Her love for her family runs deep.

16. Run high

Meaning: Feelings are strong.
Other Way to Say: Feel a lot, strong mood
Alternative Meaning: Big feelings, excited or upset
Sentence: Emotions ran high at the game.

17. Run short

Meaning: Not enough.
Other Way to Say: Be low, almost gone
Alternative Meaning: Need more, not enough left
Sentence: We are running short on paper.

18. Run over

Meaning: Go past time or hit something.
Other Way to Say: Go too long, hit
Alternative Meaning: Pass time, go over limit
Sentence: The meeting ran over time.

19. Run through

Meaning: Go over quickly.
Other Way to Say: Review, check fast
Alternative Meaning: Look again, go step by step
Sentence: Let’s run through the list.

20. Run across

Meaning: Find by chance.
Other Way to Say: Come upon, find
Alternative Meaning: See suddenly, discover
Sentence: I ran across an old toy.

21. Run off

Meaning: Leave quickly.
Other Way to Say: Take off, go away
Alternative Meaning: Leave fast, escape
Sentence: The cat ran off.

22. Run back

Meaning: Go back fast.
Other Way to Say: Hurry back, rush back
Alternative Meaning: Return fast, go again
Sentence: He ran back home.

23. Run ahead

Meaning: Go in front.
Other Way to Say: Move first, go before
Alternative Meaning: Lead, go faster
Sentence: She ran ahead of us.

24. Run behind

Meaning: Stay back.
Other Way to Say: Fall back, be late
Alternative Meaning: Not keep up, slow down
Sentence: I ran behind my friends.

25. Run along

Meaning: Go now.
Other Way to Say: Move on, go ahead
Alternative Meaning: Leave now, go away
Sentence: It’s time to run along.

26. Run down

Meaning: Feel tired or list things.
Other Way to Say: Tired out, list
Alternative Meaning: Weak, go over
Sentence: I feel run down today.

27. Run up

Meaning: Increase fast.
Other Way to Say: Go up, grow fast
Alternative Meaning: Add up, rise
Sentence: The bill ran up quickly.

28. Run out

Meaning: Use all of something.
Other Way to Say: Finish, use up
Alternative Meaning: Nothing left, gone
Sentence: We ran out of snacks.

29. Run the show

Meaning: Be in charge.
Other Way to Say: Lead, be boss
Alternative Meaning: Control, manage
Sentence: The coach runs the show.

30. Run the risk

Meaning: Take a chance.
Other Way to Say: Take a risk, try
Alternative Meaning: Face danger, chance it
Sentence: You run the risk of falling.

31. Run hot

Meaning: Be very angry.
Other Way to Say: Get mad, feel angry
Alternative Meaning: Upset, heated
Sentence: He runs hot when he loses.

32. Run cold

Meaning: Not show feelings.
Other Way to Say: Be calm, feel less
Alternative Meaning: Not excited, quiet
Sentence: She runs cold in games.

33. Run the clock

Meaning: Use time wisely.
Other Way to Say: Use time, wait it out
Alternative Meaning: Let time pass, slow play
Sentence: The team ran the clock.

34. Run smooth

Meaning: Work well.
Other Way to Say: Go well, work fine
Alternative Meaning: No problem, easy flow
Sentence: The class ran smooth today.

35. Run into trouble

Meaning: Have a problem.
Other Way to Say: Face trouble, get stuck
Alternative Meaning: Have issues, find problems
Sentence: He ran into trouble at school.

36. Run on empty

Meaning: Very tired.
Other Way to Say: No energy, worn out
Alternative Meaning: Very tired, low energy
Sentence: I am running on empty today.

37. Run full speed

Meaning: Go very fast.
Other Way to Say: Go fast, sprint
Alternative Meaning: Move quickly, rush
Sentence: The kids ran full speed.

38. Run a business

Meaning: Manage a company.
Other Way to Say: Lead a shop, own work
Alternative Meaning: Control work, handle
Sentence: My dad runs a business.

39. Run a test

Meaning: Try something.
Other Way to Say: Check, test
Alternative Meaning: Try out, examine
Sentence: We run a test in class.

40. Run a game

Meaning: Lead a game.
Other Way to Say: Control play, lead
Alternative Meaning: Guide, manage
Sentence: The coach runs the game.

41. Run together

Meaning: Go as a group.
Other Way to Say: Move as one, stay close
Alternative Meaning: Be together, join
Sentence: We run together in gym.

42. Run apart

Meaning: Move away from each other.
Other Way to Say: Split up, go away
Alternative Meaning: Separate, spread out
Sentence: The kids ran apart.

43. Run over ideas

Meaning: Think again.
Other Way to Say: Review, think again
Alternative Meaning: Check ideas, go over
Sentence: Let’s run over ideas.

44. Run a mile

Meaning: Go far.
Other Way to Say: Travel far, go long
Alternative Meaning: Move distance, long run
Sentence: We ran a mile in class.

45. Run home

Meaning: Go home fast.
Other Way to Say: Hurry home, rush back
Alternative Meaning: Go quickly, return
Sentence: I ran home after school.

46. Run outside

Meaning: Go out fast.
Other Way to Say: Rush out, go out
Alternative Meaning: Move out, go quickly
Sentence: The kids ran outside.

47. Run inside

Meaning: Go in fast.
Other Way to Say: Rush in, go in
Alternative Meaning: Enter fast, hurry
Sentence: We ran inside when it rained.

48. Run a team

Meaning: Lead a group.
Other Way to Say: Manage, guide
Alternative Meaning: Be leader, control
Sentence: She runs the team well.

49. Run a plan

Meaning: Carry out a plan.
Other Way to Say: Do plan, follow plan
Alternative Meaning: Act on idea, complete
Sentence: We ran the plan at school.

50. Run a stop sign

Meaning: Not stop at sign.
Other Way to Say: Skip stop, not stop
Alternative Meaning: Break rule, pass sign
Sentence: The car ran a stop sign.

51. Run clean

Meaning: Do well and fair.
Other Way to Say: Be fair, play right
Alternative Meaning: Honest, good
Sentence: The game ran clean.

52. Run tight

Meaning: Be strict.
Other Way to Say: Be firm, strict
Alternative Meaning: Strong rules, tight control
Sentence: The class runs tight.

53. Run loose

Meaning: Not strict.
Other Way to Say: Relaxed, free
Alternative Meaning: Easy rules, open
Sentence: The class runs loose today.

54. Run long

Meaning: Take more time.
Other Way to Say: Go longer, last more
Alternative Meaning: Extend time, keep going
Sentence: The movie ran long.

55. Run short of breath

Meaning: Hard to breathe.
Other Way to Say: Out of breath, tired
Alternative Meaning: Need air, breathing hard
Sentence: I ran short of breath.

56. Run a fever

Meaning: Have high body heat.
Other Way to Say: Be sick, feel hot
Alternative Meaning: Have fever, not well
Sentence: He is running a fever.

57. Run the base

Meaning: Move in baseball.
Other Way to Say: Play ball, go base
Alternative Meaning: Score run, move fast
Sentence: He ran the base in baseball.

58. Run a lap

Meaning: Go around once.
Other Way to Say: Circle, go around
Alternative Meaning: One round, one loop
Sentence: We ran a lap in gym.

59. Run a check

Meaning: Look at something.
Other Way to Say: Check, review
Alternative Meaning: Test, look again
Sentence: I ran a check on my work.

60. Run the line

Meaning: Follow rules.
Other Way to Say: Stay in line, obey
Alternative Meaning: Follow path, act right
Sentence: Students run the line at school.

61. Run free time

Meaning: Spend time doing fun things.
Other Way to Say: Play time, free play
Alternative Meaning: Relax, enjoy time
Sentence: Kids run free time after class.

62. Run strong

Meaning: Be powerful.
Other Way to Say: Stay strong, keep going
Alternative Meaning: Full power, steady
Sentence: The team runs strong all season.

18 Here are the questions.

1. When the bell rings and you still have work, what does “run out of time” mean?
   A. Have no time left
   B. Go for a walk
   C. Eat lunch
2. When a dog leaves the yard fast, what does “run away” mean?
   A. Stay still
   B. Leave fast
   C. Sit down
3. When you see your teacher at the grocery store by surprise, what does “run into someone” mean?
   A. Plan a meeting
   B. Meet by chance
   C. Call first
4. When the school bus comes late, what does “run late” mean?
   A. Be early
   B. Be on time
   C. Be behind time
5. When you race your friend in gym class, what does “run fast” mean?
   A. Move quickly
   B. Sit still
   C. Walk slow
6. When you jog slowly in the park, what does “run slow” mean?
   A. Go very fast
   B. Move not fast
   C. Jump high
7. When it starts raining and you go to your car quickly, what does “run for it” mean?
   A. Stay outside
   B. Walk slowly
   C. Go fast to be safe
8. When you keep doing the same homework mistake, what does “run in circles” mean?
   A. Make progress
   B. Stay stuck
   C. Finish work
9. When you help your mom go to the post office and store, what does “run errands” mean?
   A. Play games
   B. Do small jobs
   C. Sleep
10. When kids play too loud in the park, what does “run wild” mean?
    A. Be calm
    B. Be very quiet
    C. Act without control
11. When your milk is almost gone at home, what does “run low” mean?
    A. Full
    B. Almost gone
    C. New
12. When your class time goes past the bell, what does “run over” mean?
    A. End early
    B. Stay short
    C. Go past time
13. When you quickly check your homework again, what does “run through” mean?
    A. Throw away
    B. Look quickly
    C. Hide it
14. When you find an old book at home by chance, what does “run across” mean?
    A. Lose it
    B. Find by chance
    C. Buy it
15. When your team leader makes all the choices, what does “run the show” mean?
    A. Be in charge
    B. Watch only
    C. Leave early
16. When you may fall while climbing, what does “run the risk” mean?
    A. Stay safe
    B. Take a chance
    C. Stop playing
17. When you feel very tired after school, what does “run on empty” mean?
    A. Full of energy
    B. Very tired
    C. Ready to play
18. When your class works well with no problems, what does “run smooth” mean?
    A. Have trouble
    B. Work well
    C. Stop early

Answers:

1. A
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. C
11. B
12. C
13. B
14. B
15. A
16. B
17. B
18. B

Conclusion

Idioms about running can be fun to learn. They do not always mean real running. They can show time, feelings, or actions. When you know these idioms, it is easier to understand people.

You can try using them at school or at home. Start with a few and practice them in sentences. Over time, you will learn more. This will help you speak and read English in a clear way.