• RUN A BLAZER
vb. to deceive or bluff …1903 Amer. dial.
• RUN-ABOUT
adj. wandering, restless …Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a gossip …Bk1898 Eng, dial.
n. 2. a peddler, an itinerant trader …Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to go gossiping …Bk1898 Eng. dial.
• RUN A DRAG ON
vb. to deceive, to trick, to hoax …1980s African-American sl.
• RUN A DRUM
vb. 1933 Aust. sl. – of a racehorse: to run a winning race, as tipped or expected
• RUN AFTER
vb. 1526 sl. – to seek someone’s company with a view to a sexual relationship
• RUN AFTER TWO HARES
vb. 17C – to undertake too many things
• RUN A GAME ON
vb. 1960s African-American sl. – to bamboozle, to deceive, to seduce, to confuse, to obtain money by trickery
• RUN AGROUND
vb. BK1898 Eng. dial. – to slander; to depreciate
• RUN A HOOLIGAN ON
vb. 1920s US sl. – to play tricks on, to defraud
• RUN ALL DAY ON A CABBAGE-LEAF
vb. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to be a poor runner
• RUN AMAIN
vb. 1843 Eng. dial. – to get beyond control, to run riot
• RUN A MAKE
vb. 1970s US police sl. – to identify a suspect
• RUN A MASKET
vb. 1570 Eng. dial. – to lose one’s way, to be bewildered
• RUN A MILE FROM
vb. 1949 sl. – to be afraid
• RUN AMUCK
vb. US Civil War usage – to be in a state of murderous frenzy; to try to kill all who come in one’s way
• RUN-AN’-GO
n. a run before leaping …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUN-AN’-WALK
n. the gait of a riding horse …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUN A RAILROAD
vb. to be addicted to narcotics …1970s drug culture sl.
• RUN A RIG
vb. to play fast and loose …1782 sl.
• RUN A RIG ON
vb. to play a joke on, to make sport of …1858 Amer. dial.
• RUNAROUND
n. 1. a suppurative inflammatory sore or swelling in a finger or thumb …M19 US sl.
n. 2. an area of confinement that is outside the cells proper …1900s US prison sl.
n. 3. a short trip, an excursion …1950s orig. US
(verbs as ‘run around’)
vb. 1. to have a relationship; also a friendship …L19 orig. US
vb. 2. to carry on sexual affairs, deceiving one’s primary partner …1920s orig. US
• RUN AROUND LIKE A BLUE-ARSED FLY
vb. L19 sl. – to be excessively busy, often to the detriment of others; to rush around headlong
• RUN AROUND LIKE A CUT CAT
vb. 1950s Aust. sl. – to be very angry
• RUN A SANDY
vb. 1897 Amer. dial. – to bluff; to play a trick on someone
• RUN A SANDY ON
vb. 1914 Amer. dial. – to trick, to cheat, to dupe; to mislead, to delude
• RUN A SANDY OVER
vb. 1923 Amer. dial. – to trick, to cheat, to dupe; to mislead, to delude
• RUN ASTERN
vb. 1945 Amer. dial. – to fail of success
• RUN A TAB
vb. to order drinks without paying for each one, paying instead the entire bill at the end of the session …1995 US colloq.
• RUN A TRAIN
vb. to engage in serial sex with multiple partners, homosexual or heterosexual, usually consensual …1965 US sl.
• RUN AWAY WITH THE HARROWS
vb. 1. to be in too great a hurry …1844 Sc.
vb. 2. to carry off the prize; to acquire superiority …1844 Sc.
• RUN AWK
vb. of bells: to ring as alarm of fire …Bk1898 Eng. dial.
• RUN BEFORE ONE’S HORSE TO MARKET
vb. to count the gain before the bargain is made …1594 obs.
• RUNCATION
n. the act of weeding, a weeding …1664 obs.
• RUN DEAD
vb. in horse racing, of a horse: to be deliberately pulled up so that it does not run at its best …20C Aust. sl.
• RUNDLE
n. 1. a circle; a circular or annular form, appearance, or arrangement; a round …c1305 obs.
n. 2. an object of a circular form …1388 obs.
n. 3. a coil, curve, spiral …1565 obs.
n. 4. a rung of a ladder …1565 rare or obs.
n. 5. a cylinder or roller of wood …1565
n. 6. a circular enclosure or field …1577-87 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 7. a small stream or rivulet …1587 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 8. a small round shield …1591 obs.
n. 9. a round slice or paring; a small round cake …1607 obs.
n. 10. a solid wheel or barrel …1611
n. 11. an umbrella …1677-8 obs.
n. 12. a pollard tree …a1697 Eng. dial.
• RUN DOWN
adj. dead …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. (as ‘rundown’) a catalogue of information, facts, etc., or a brief description …1945 sl., orig. US
vb. to subside …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUN DOWN THE WRONG THROAT
vb. of food when swallowed: to go the wrong way …1883 Eng. dial.
• RUN FOR THE HOSES
vb. to talk your way out of a touchy situation …1960s Amer. sl.
• RUN HEADS TOGETHER
vb. to consult or take counsel together …1523 obs.
• RUN HELL-BENT
vb. to go fast …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUN HELL-BENT FOR ELECTION
vb. to go fast …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUN-IN
n. 1. an argument, a row …1905 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a hiding place for stolen goods …1959 sl.
vb. (usually as ‘run in’) to arrest …1859 sl.
• RUN IN ANYONE’S BEARD
vb. to oppose him openly and resolutely …Bk1888 obs.
• RUN IN ONE’S MIND
vb. to remember, to keep in one’s recollection …1896 Sc.
• RUN IN THE LASH
vb. to incur more debts than one can pay …1576 obs.
• RUN IN THE ROAD
vb. to visit; to stay away from home …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• RUN IT UP YOUR ASS!
int. a derisive retort …1973 Amer. sl.
• RUNKLE
adj.1440 obs. rare – wrinkled
n. 1.a1400 now chiefly Sc. & Irish usage – a wrinkle; a rumple; a crease
n.2.1930 Sc. – a bunch, snarl, or entanglement
n.3.1934 Sc. – a wrinkled, shrivelled or gnarled person
vb.1.a1425 – to wrinkle; to rumple; to crumple; to crush
vb.2.1722 Sc. – to gnarl, to twist, to distort, to curl
• RUN LIKE A RED-SHANK
vb. 1877 Eng. dial. – to run as fast as possible
• RUN LIKE A WHITE-HEAD
vb. 1901 Amer. dial. – to run very fast
• RUN LIKE SCOOTER
vb. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – to run very nimbly
• RUNNER
n. 1930 sl., chiefly US – someone who traffics in illicit liquor, drugs, etc.
• RUN NESH
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – of a dog: to run lightly and softly
• RUNNING BANQUET
n. 1613 obs. – a slight repast between meals; a snack
• RUNNING BENDERS
n. sliding on thin ice …1943 Amer. dial.
• RUNNING-GEAR TO A GOOSE NEST
phr. said to a child when he asks “What are you making?” …1965 Amer. dial.
• RUNNING-GEAR TO A HAWK’S NEST
phr. said to a child when he asks “What are you making?” …1965 Amer. dial.
• RUNNING LIGHTS
n. eyes …1950s Amer. sl.
• RUNNING MACHINE
n. a racehorse …Bk1942 Amer. turf sl.
• RUNNIN’ HOT
n. a trucker term for running a truck without the right permits, overweight, or otherwise outside the law …Bk1998 sl.
• RUNNIN’ LEGAL
n. the opposite of ‘runnin’ hot’ …Bk1998 sl.
• RUN OF A GARGET
vb. to become diseased …1615
• RUN-OFF
n. urination …1961 sl.
• RUN OFF AT THE HEAD
vb. to talk too much or too loud …1966 Amer. dial.
• RUN OFF AT THE MOUTH
vb. to talk loquaciously …1909 US sl.
• RUN OFF THE REEL
vb. to outstep bounds’ to be beside oneself …1895 Eng. dial.
• RUN OFF WITH THE HARROWS
vb. 1. to break loose; to become unmanageable …1813 Sc.
vb. 2. to go too fast; to carry things too far …1843 Sc.
• RUN OF THE BUNK
n. nonsense …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• RUN ONE’S CABLE OUT TO CLINCH
vb. L18 Royal Navy sl. – to go, to ask, as far, as much, as is safe
• RUN ONE’S FACE
vb. 1839 US sl. – to obtain credit by impudence
• RUN ONE’S MOUTH
vb. 1940 US sl., chiefly African-American – to talk loquaciously
• RUN ONE’S SHAPE FOR
vb. M19 sl., orig. US – to obtain credit
• RUN ONE’S TETHER
vb. 1879 Sc. – to come to the end of one’s resources
• RUN ONE’S TETHER-LENGTH
vb. 1816 Sc. – to pursue a reckless course which leads to calamity
• RUN ON TICK
vb. 1642 – to buy on credit, to run into debt
• RUN-OUT
n. 1. 1928 US – a running out, fleeing, or escaping; a hasty or unceremonious departure
n. 2. 1934 Brit. sl. – a fraudulent auction in which worthless goods are sold to genuine bidders
• RUN OUT OF STEAM
vb. 1961 sl. – to lose energy
• RUN-OUT POWDER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a hasty or unceremonious departure
• RUN-OVER
adj. 1876 – of a shoe, heel, etc.: that has been worn down on one side
n. 1814 – an assessment or examination; a perusal
• RUN-ROUND
n. 1833 US colloq., rare – an infection of the tissue around a nail, esp. a fingernail
• RUN RUSTY
vb. 1718 rare – to be obstinate or awkward; to be angry; to take offense
• THE RUNS
n. 1962 euphemism – diarrhoea
• RUNSH
vb. 1825 Sc. – to munch and chew vigorously with much noise; to crunch with the teeth
• RUN SOMETHING UP THE FLAGPOLE
vb. 1955 – to pursue a tentative course of action in order to gauge the reaction it receives
• RUNT
n. 1. 1553 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an old or decayed tree stump
n. 2. 1602 obs. – an ignorant, uncouth, or uncivilized person
n. 3. a1652 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an old person, typically a woman; esp. one who is ill-tempered or disagreeable
n. 4. 1675 obs. – a canary more than three years old
n. 5. 1699 – a short person of thickset build; a small or undersized person
vb. a1398 obs. – to berate, to rebuke
• RUN THE HOG
vb. 1. 1900s sl. – to play the fool
vb. 2. 1940s sl. – to malfunction
• RUN THE PADFOOT RACE
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to run and fetch the doctor when a woman is taken in labour
• RUN THE RABBIT
vb. to take drink (illegally) from a public house, esp. after hours …1895 Aust. sl.
• RUN THE VENTURE OF
vb. to run the risk of …1722 obs.
• RUN TIDDLEDIES
vb. to run over ice after it has begun to break up on a sheet of water …1887 Amer. dial.
• RUN TIDDLEDY-BENDERS
vb. to run over ice after it has begun to break up on a sheet of water …1888 Amer. dial.
• RUN TIDDLIES
vb. to run over ice after it has begun to break up on a sheet of water …1877 Amer. dial.
• RUN TIDDLY
vb. to run over ice after it has begun to break up on a sheet of water …1915 Amer. dial.
• RUNTING
n. 1976 sl., rare – in the ice-cream trade: the practice of giving unaccompanied children undersized portions
• RUNTISH
adj. a1642 – stunted undersized
• RUN TITTLY-BENDERS
vb. 1892 Amer. dial. – to run over ice after it has begun to break up on a sheet of water
• RUN TO EARTH
vb. 1. 1815 – to hunt (an animal, esp. a fox) to the earth, and trap it there
vb. 2. 1815 – of a hunted fox: to go to ground
vb. 3. 1857 – to find someone after searching
• RUN TO SEED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – old
• RUN TO THE TETHER’S END
vb. 1773 Sc. – to go to extremity; to go as far as possible
• RUNTY
adj. 1. 1807 orig. Eng. dial. & US – stunted, undersized; short, thickset
adj. 2. 1823 Eng. dial. – surly, ill-tempered; obstinate
• RUN-UP
n. 1. 1884 – a rapid increase in the price or value of a commodity
n. 2. 1961 – a period of time or series of occurrences leading up to some significant event; an action which prepares the way for one on a larger scale
• RUN UP THE WALL
vb. 1951 sl. – to become angry
• RUN UP WITH A HOT NEEDLE AND BURNING THREAD
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to sew hastily and carelessly
• RUNWAY
n. 1. 1871 – a part of a coop or pen in which fowl may roam freely
n. 2. 1874 rare – the bed or channel in which a stream runs
n. 3. 1884 – in baseball: the path within which a player must remain while running between bases
• RUN WIDE
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to go at full speed
• RUN WIDE OPEN
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to go at full speed
• RUN WITH
vb. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – to associate habitually with
• RUN WITH HARE AND HOUNDS
vb. 1562 – to try to keep in with both sides; to play a double part
• RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS
vb. 1980s US college sl. – to do anything anyone else can
• RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT WITH THE HOUNDS
vb. 1562 – to try to keep in with both sides; to play a double part
• RUN YOUR OWN LITTLE RED WAGON
phr. 1966 Amer. dial. – mind your own business
• RUPELLARY
adj. c1660 rare – consisting of rocks, rocky
• RUPERT
n. 1. 1910s sl., orig. military usage – any young male aristocrat
n. 2. 1960s sl. – the penis
• RUPERT BEARS
n. 1980 – (business) shares → rhyming sl.
• RUPESTRIAN
adj. 1. 1800 – relating to or involving rocks or cliffs → obs.
adj. 2. 1896 – of a painting, inscription, etc.: done on rock or cave walls
• RUPOGRAPHY
n. 1838 – a taking an impression of a coin or medal using sealing wax → obs.
• RUPPERTY
n. 1898 – a pub → Aust. sl.
• RUPT
adj. 1425 – ruptured; broken
vb. 1425 – to rupture, to break; also, to nullify → obs.
• RUPTION
n. 1483 – a disturbance; a commotion
• RUPTIVE
adj. 1425 – causing breaking or rupture
• RUPTOR
n. 1574 – a person who or a thing ruptures something → obs.
• RUPTURE
n. 1. 1439 – breach or violation of a treaty, contract, etc.; the breakdown of a particular state of affairs
n. 2. 1702 – an outbreak of hostilities → obs.
• RUPTURED DUCK
n. 1. 1930 – a damaged aircraft → US sl., orig. & chiefly military usage
n. 2. 1945 – a button given on discharge from the services → US sl.
• RURALISM
n. 1. 1835 – a being rural; country life
n. 2. 1854 – a rural idiom or expression; also, a rural trait or habit
• RURALIST
adj. 1842 – characteristic of a ruralist; rural
n. 1. 1715 – an advocate of country as opposed to town or city life; an enthusiast of the countryside
n. 2. 1739 – an inhabitant of the country; a farmer, a peasant
• RURALITE
n. 1841 – a country dweller; on who lives in a rural area
• RURALITIES
n. 1775 – rural objects, features, or areas
• RURALITY
n. 1611 – a being rural; ruralness
• RURALIZATION
n. 1. 1832 – a spending time in the country; also, a rural excursion → obs.
n. 2. 1851 – rural life; ruralness → obs.
n. 3. 1892 – a making or becoming rural in character or appearance
• RURALIZE
vb. 1761 – to spend time in the country; to engage in rural pursuits
• THE RURALTY
n. 1641 – a place’s rural inhabitants considered collectively → obs.
• RURATE
n. 1540 – ? a rural clergyman → obs.
• RURBAN
adj. 1915 – relating to or designating an area sharing both rural and urban characteristics
• RURBANIZATION
n. 1927 – the influence of rural society on urban life, or vice versa
• RURE
n. 1000 – fall; downfall; ruin → obs.
• RURIC
adj. 1488 – rustic; said of a person → Sc., obs.
• RURICOLIST
n. 1727 – an inhabitant of the country; a person who works in the country, a farmer → obs.
• RURICOLOUS
adj. 1842 – living or working in the country; rural → obs.
• RURIFY
vb. 1593 – to give a rustic character or appearance to → obs.
• RURIGENE
adj. 1656 – born or dwelling in the country → obs.
n. 1656 – a person who was born or who dwells in the country → obs.
• RURIGENOUS
adj. 1730 – born or dwelling in the country, rustic
• RURITANIA
n. 1894 – a state or country seen as a setting for romantic adventure and intrigue; generally, any imaginary or hypothetical country
• RURITANIAN
adj. 1896 – relating to any imaginary or hypothetical country
n. 1935 – a person associated with romantic adventure and intrigue; also, an imaginary or hypothetical person
• RURURBAN
adj. 1942 – partly rural and party urban → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
Back to INDEX R
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 