- runaround
- runaround (n.) "deceptive, evasive treatment," 1915, from RUN (Cf. run) (v.) + around. The verbal phrase run around "to associate" (with) is from 1887.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
runaround
Look at other dictionaries:
runaround — ► NOUN informal 1) (the runaround) evasive treatment. 2) a runabout … English terms dictionary
runaround — [run′ə round΄] n. ☆ 1. Informal a series of evasive excuses, deceptions, delays, etc.: usually in get (or give) the runaround 2. Printing an arrangement of type in shorter lines than the rest of the text, as around an illustration … English World dictionary
Runaround — Run a*round , n. a delaying or evasive, and sometimes deceptive, answer to an inquiry or request. [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Runaround — Infobox Short story name = Runaround author = Isaac Asimov country = United States language = English series = Robot Series genre = Science fiction short story publication type = Periodical published in = Astounding Science Fiction publisher =… … Wikipedia
runaround — UK [ˈrʌnəˌraʊnd] / US noun Word forms runaround : singular runaround plural runarounds give someone the runaround … English dictionary
runaround — n. (colloq.) delaying action to give smb. the runaround * * * [ rʌnəˌraʊnd] (colloq.) [ delaying action ] to give smb. the runaround … Combinatory dictionary
runaround — run|a|round [ˈrʌnəˌraund] n give sb the runaround informal to deliberately avoid giving someone a definite answer, especially when they are asking you to do something ▪ Every time we ask the landlord about fixing the roof, he gives us the… … Dictionary of contemporary English
runaround — run|a|round [ rʌnə,raund ] noun give someone the runaround INFORMAL to deliberately behave in a way that is not helpful: When I asked about the money she gave me the runaround … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
runaround — n. a wild goose chase. (Especially with give, as in the example.) □ The IRS gave us the runaround when we asked for a review. □ The customer will never get a runaround at my store! … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
runaround — noun Date: 1915 1. deceptive or delaying action especially in response to a request < tired of getting the runaround > 2. matter typeset in shortened measure to run around something (as a cut) … New Collegiate Dictionary
