Definition

1. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To leave quickly or suddenly, often in a secretive or unauthorized manner.
   • To flow away or be carried off by a liquid, typically referring to water or other fluids.
   • (Of a contest) To be decided by a final, additional round or match to break a tie.

2. Verb (Transitive):

   • To produce copies of a document using a photocopier or similar machine.
   • To cause someone or something to leave or be driven away.
   • To write or recite something quickly and easily.

Examples of Usage

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The cashier ran off with the day's earnings. (He left secretly, taking the money.)
  • During the storm, the rainwater runs off into the gutters. (The water flows away.)
  • The election was so close it had to be run off. (A final election was held to decide the winner.)

• Transitive Verb:

  • Could you run off twenty copies of this report, please? (Make twenty photocopies.)
  • The dog ran off the squirrels from the bird feeder. (The dog chased the squirrels away.)
  • She can run off a poem from memory in seconds. (She can recite it quickly.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run off at the mouth": To talk excessively or indiscreetly.

  • He tends to run off at the mouth when he's nervous, sharing too many details.

• "to run off with (someone/something)": To elope with a lover or to steal something and flee.

  • He ran off with his secretary, causing a scandal.
  • A customer ran off with a valuable painting from the gallery.

Variants and Related Words

• Runoff (noun): A final race, election, or contest held to decide a winner after a tie. It can also mean water from rain or snow that flows over the ground.

  • The mayoral race will be decided in a runoff next month.
  • Agricultural runoff can pollute rivers.

• Runaway (noun/adjective): A person who has run away; something that is out of control.

  • The police searched for the runaway teenager.

Synonyms

• Flee, escape, abscond: (For leaving secretly)
• Elope: (For running away to get married)
• Photocopy, duplicate: (For making copies)
• Dispel, chase away, drive off: (For forcing to leave)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Run off with: To steal something or elope with someone.

  • He ran off with the company's funds.

• Run off to: To go quickly to a place.

  • She ran off to catch the last bus.

Related Idioms

• Run off one's feet: To be extremely busy.

  • During the holiday sale, the staff were run off their feet.

• Run off the rails: To go wrong or out of control.

  • After the manager left, the project ran off the rails.

Verb

1. decide (a contest or competition) by a runoff
2. reproduce by xerography
3. run off as waste
   • The water wastes back into the ocean
4. run away secretly with one's beloved
   • The young couple eloped and got married in Las Vegas
5. force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
   • Drive away potential burglars
   • drive away bad thoughts
   • dispel doubts
   • The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers
6. leave suddenly and as if in a hurry
   • The listeners bolted when he discussed his strange ideas
   • When she started to tell silly stories, I ran out
7. run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
   • The thief made off with our silver
   • the accountant absconded with the cash from the safe