What Does “Run away with sb” Mean?
“Run away with sb” means to leave secretly with someone, usually to live together or escape from a situation.
Introduction
The phrase “Run away with sb” is a common phrasal verb used in English to describe the act of leaving a place secretly with another person, often to start a new life together. This expression often implies escaping from family, responsibilities, or difficult circumstances. Understanding the Run away with sb meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversations, stories, or writing. It is frequently used in romantic or adventurous contexts but can also apply to other situations where two people leave together unexpectedly.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: run away with somebody
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to leave secretly with someone, often to escape or start a new life
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Run away with sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot separate the verb and the prepositions. The structure is always:
- Subject + run away with + somebody
- Example: They ran away with their friends.
You cannot say “run with sb away” or separate “run away” from “with sb”.
How to Use Run away with sb?
This phrasal verb is used to describe an action where two people secretly leave a place together. It often implies a romantic or adventurous escape. You can use it in past, present, or future tenses:
- Past: They ran away with each other last summer.
- Present: She runs away with him whenever they feel trapped.
- Future: They might run away with their plans soon.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences showing Run away with sb in a sentence:
- After months of planning, they finally ran away with each other to start a new life.
- She wanted to run away with him and leave all her worries behind.
- Many young couples run away with each other to avoid family conflicts.
- He threatened to run away with her if his parents didn’t approve.
- They ran away with their childhood dreams and made them real.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use “run away” without “with” incorrectly. Here are examples:
- Incorrect: They ran with her away last night.
- Correct: They ran away with her last night.
- Incorrect: She ran away her boyfriend.
- Correct: She ran away with her boyfriend.
Remember, “run away” and “with sb” must stay together.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “run off with sb” and “elope with sb”.
- Run off with sb also means to leave secretly with someone but can suggest stealing or taking something (like money or an object).
- Elope with sb is more formal and specifically refers to getting married secretly by running away together.
“Run away with sb” is broader and not always about marriage.
Common Collocations
Here are some common words used with “run away with”:
- Run away with love – to escape with someone you love.
- Run away with dreams – to follow your dreams secretly.
- Run away with plans – to carry out secret plans with someone.
- Run away with fears – to escape fears or problems.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of run away with sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends talking about a couple who left town:
Anna: Did you hear? Sarah and Tom ran away with each other last night!
Ben: Really? That’s so sudden! I wonder where they went.
Anna: Nobody knows, but they wanted to avoid the family drama.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “run away with”:
- Last summer, they ________ each other to start a new life.
- She wants to ________ him and leave the city soon.
- If they don’t get permission, they might ________ together.
FAQ
- What does “run away with sb” mean? It means to leave secretly with someone, often to start a new life.
- Can I separate “run away” and “with sb”? No, “run away with sb” is inseparable.
- Is “run away with sb” always about love? Usually yes, but it can also mean escaping with someone for other reasons.
- How is “run away with sb” different from “elope with sb”? “Elope” specifically means to marry secretly, while “run away with” is broader.
- Can I use “run away with sb” in formal writing? It is informal but acceptable in storytelling or conversational contexts.
