run upon

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To encounter or meet unexpectedly: "run upon" means to come across someone or something by chance, often without prior planning.
   • To attack or assail suddenly: In a more aggressive sense, "run upon" can mean to charge at or confront someone or something with force.
   • To dwell on or be preoccupied with: In older or figurative usage, "run upon" can refer to a thought or conversation that repeatedly focuses on a particular topic.

Usage Examples

• To encounter unexpectedly:

  • I ran upon an old friend at the market yesterday. (I met a friend by chance.)
  • The hikers ran upon a hidden waterfall in the forest. (They discovered it unexpectedly.)

• To attack suddenly:

  • The soldiers ran upon the enemy camp at dawn. (They charged into the camp with force.)
  • The dog ran upon the intruder, barking fiercely. (The dog attacked the intruder.)

• To dwell on a topic (archaic/literary):

  • His speech ran upon the importance of education. (His speech repeatedly focused on education.)
  • Her thoughts ran upon the events of the past week. (She kept thinking about them.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run upon a reef": (nautical) to crash a ship into a submerged rock or shoal.

  • The captain ran the vessel upon a reef during the storm. (The ship hit a reef and was damaged.)

• "to run upon the rocks": (figurative) to encounter a serious obstacle or failure.

  • Their marriage ran upon the rocks after the financial crisis. (Their relationship encountered severe difficulties.)

Variants and Related Words

• Run-up (n): the period leading up to an event.

  • The run-up to the election was filled with debates. (The time before the election.)

• Run-on (adj): continuing without pause; also a type of sentence error.

  • His run-on speech bored the audience. (His speech went on without breaks.)

Synonyms

• Come across: to find or meet by chance.
• Stumble upon: to discover unexpectedly.
• Charge at: to attack with speed.

Phrasal Verbs

• Run across: to meet or find by chance.

  • I ran across a rare book at the flea market. (I found it unexpectedly.)

• Run into: to meet someone unexpectedly.

  • She ran into her neighbor at the grocery store. (She met him by chance.)

Related Idioms

• Run upon the wheel: (archaic) to be endlessly repetitive or tedious.

  • His complaints run upon the wheel — he never stops. (His complaints are repetitive and tiresome.)

• Run upon the sword: to face danger or death directly.

  • The knight was ready to run upon the sword for his honor. (He was prepared to confront death.)