Commonly used english part 75 potx

run the good race - to do the best that one can The politician ran the good race but in the end he lost the election.. Russian roulette - a potentially dangerous situation Putting the da

run off at the mouth

- to talk excessively

My classmate is always running off at the mouth about something

run off copies of (something)

- to produce copies with a printing press or a copy machine

We ran off many copies of the poster for the festival

run off with (someone)

- to go away with someone, to elope with someone

My sister ran off with her boyfriend and got married when she was quite young

run out of patience

- to become annoyed after being patient for a period of time

The mother has run out of patience with her son

run out of (something)

- to use all of something

The car ran out of gas in the countryside

run out of time

- to use up all the available time

We ran out of time at the meeting so we could not discuss the staffing issue

run over (someone or something)

- to drive on top of someone or something

We ran over a rabbit on the way to the meeting

run over (something)

- to be too full and flow over the edge

The water ran over the edge of the bathtub and got everything in the room wet

run over (something)

- to read/go over something quickly, to practice something briefly

We plan to run over the material before the meeting

run ragged

- to be tired or exhausted

The woman is being run ragged by her three children

run rampant

- to run or grow out of control

The use of illegal taxis is running rampant in our city

run riot/wild

- to go out of control

The soccer fans ran riot after the game

run scared

- to behave as if one were going to fail/lose

The politician has been running scared in his attempt to win re-election

run short of (something)

- to not have enough of something

We ran short of money during our trip to Europe

run (someone) in

- to take someone to jail, to arrest someone

The police ran the man in for questioning about the robbery

run (someone) out

- to force someone to leave, to expel someone

The police ran the drug dealers out of town

run (something) by (someone) again

- to say something again

I asked my colleague to run his ideas by me again

run (something) into the ground

- to use something more than is wanted or needed, to neglect something

He ran his car into the ground and had to buy another one

run the gauntlet

- to face a hard test or painful experience

I had to run the gauntlet of many interviews before I got the job

run the good race

- to do the best that one can

The politician ran the good race but in the end he lost the election

run through (money or something)

- to spend money recklessly, to use up something wastefully

We ran through a lot of money when we bought furniture for our new apartment

run through (something)

- to read or practice something from the beginning to the end without stopping

I usually try to run through my speech a couple of times before I have to give it

run to (an amount of money)

- to amount to a certain amount of money

The cost of repairing my car may run to more money than I can pay

run/go to seed

- to become worn-out and uncared for

The small store has run to seed and few people like to go there now

run up

- to add to the amount of something

We ran up a large bill at the department store before we went home

run up (something)

- to pull something up on a rope

We ran up the flag early this morning before the parade began

run up against (something)

- to encounter something

The city ran up against many problems when they were building the freeway

run wild

- to be or go out of control

The crowd ran wild after the soccer game

to be running high

- to have one's feelings in a state of excitement or anger

Feelings about the train accident are running high and the government must give an explanation about what happened

a rush on (something)

- a large demand for something

There was a rush on candles after the electricity went off for three days

Russian roulette

- a game of chance in which one bullet is placed in a revolver and the cartridge is spun and the player aims the gun at his head and pulls the trigger

The men in the movie played Russian roulette until one of them finally died

Russian roulette

- a potentially dangerous situation

Putting the dangerous chemicals on the old ship was like playing a game of Russian roulette

rustle (something) up

- to find and prepare some food etc

We went home after the game and began to rustle up some dinner

S

sack out

- to go to bed, to go to sleep

I sacked out as soon as I arrived home last evening

a sacred cow

- something that is never criticized or laughed at even if it sometimes deserves to be

The medical insurance system is a sacred cow of the government and is never

criticized by anyone

sadder but wiser

- unhappy about something but having learned something from the experience

The man was sadder but wiser after he learned that his wallet had been stolen

saddle (someone) with (something)

- to give someone something undesirable or difficult to deal with

I try not to saddle my friend with the problems that I am having at work

safe and sound

- to be safe/whole/healthy

We arrived at our destination safe and sound after a long journey

to be on the safe side

- to take no chances

It may rain so to be on the safe side I think that I will bring my umbrella

safety in numbers

- to feel safe by being surrounded by a large number of people

There was safety in numbers when the students went to complain to the principal about their new teacher

sage advice

- very good and wise advice

I waited for my friend to ask me for my sage advice regarding his problems

sail into (someone)

- to scold or criticize someone very hard, to attack someone

When I entered the office my supervisor sailed into me for being late

sail right through (something)

- to finish something quickly and easily

I was able to sail right through the material for my final exam

sail under false colors

- to pretend to be something that one is not

The politician was sailing under false colors when he appealed to the citizens for votes

salt away money

- to save money

My friend has salted away much money from her new job

salt of the earth

- basic and fundamentally good people

The members of our club are all the salt of the earth and are fun to spend time with

same as (someone or something)

- to be identical to someone or something

My sister is exactly the same as the girl who lives down the block

Same here!

- Me too! I agree!

"Same here," I replied when someone said that they were having problems with their Internet provider

same old story

- something that occurs or has occurred in the same way before

It is always the same old story with my friend He borrows money but he never wants

to pay it back

same to you

- the same comment applies to you

"The same to you," the boy said when his friend said that he was stupid

sands of time

- the accumulated tiny amounts of time (like the sand in an hourglass)

The sands of time have done much to change the woman's attitude toward her sister

save face

- to preserve one`s good reputation or dignity when something has happened to hurt it

Our boss was very embarrassed when our company lost a lot of money However, he was able to save face when he showed that the problems were outside of his control

save one`s breath

- to remain silent because talking will do no good

You may as well save your breath and not talk to her as she will not believe you anyway

save one`s neck/skin

- to save oneself from danger or trouble

The man left the scene of the fire as soon as possible in order to save his neck

save (something) for a rainy day

- to reserve something/money for the future

I always try to save some money for a rainy day when I get paid

save the day

- to bring about victory or success (when defeat is likely)

The player saved the day for his team when he played his best game of the season

save up for (something)

- to save money in order to buy something

My friend's brother is saving up for a new digital camera

saved by the bell

- to be rescued from a difficult situation just in time by something that brings the situation to a sudden end

I was saved by the bell and do not have to give my presentation until tomorrow

saving grace

- something that saves someone or something that would otherwise be a total disaster

The man's saving grace was his mathematical ability His other personality traits were very strange

say Idioms

say a mouthful

- to say something of great importance/meaning/length

"You certainly said a mouthful," I said when my friend began to tell me about his complaint

say grace

- to say a prayer of thanks before or after a meal

The bride's father was asked to say grace before the wedding banquet

say one`s piece

- to say openly what one thinks

I said my piece at the meeting and then left quietly by the back door