Run sb down Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Run sb down” Mean?

“Run sb down” is a phrasal verb that means to criticize someone or to hit someone with a vehicle. It has two main meanings depending on the context.

Introduction

The phrase “Run sb down” is common in everyday English and can be used in different situations. The most usual meanings are either to speak badly about someone or to physically hit someone with a vehicle, usually a car. Understanding the “Run sb down meaning” helps learners use it correctly and avoid confusion. This guide explains both meanings clearly, with examples, grammar tips, and common mistakes to help you improve your English skills.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Run sb down (run somebody down)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To criticize someone or to hit someone with a vehicle

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Run sb down” is a separable transitive phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb = somebody) between “run” and “down” or after the entire phrase.

• Correct: She ran him down.
• Correct: She ran down him.

In most cases, especially in spoken English, placing the object between the verb and particle is more common.

How to Use Run sb down?

You can use “run sb down” when talking about criticizing someone unfairly or harshly. For example, “He always runs his coworkers down.”

It is also used literally when a person or animal is hit by a vehicle: “The driver ran the cyclist down.”

Be careful with the context to choose the correct meaning.

Examples

Here are some natural examples of “run sb down in a sentence”:

• She tends to run her colleagues down in meetings, which is not polite.
• The newspaper article ran the politician down unfairly.
• He was almost run down by a speeding car.
• The dog ran down the rabbit in the garden.
• Don’t run yourself down; you did a great job!

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse “run sb down” with other similar phrases or misuse the object placement.

• Incorrect: She ran down him in the meeting.
• Correct: She ran him down in the meeting.
• Incorrect: He ran down the cyclist without any context.
• Correct: He ran the cyclist down with his car.

Remember, when using the phrase to mean criticism, the object usually comes between “run” and “down.”

Differences / Synonyms

“Run sb down” can be confused with similar phrasal verbs like:

• Put sb down: To insult or make someone feel bad.
• Talk sb down: To calm someone or convince them to stop doing something harmful.
• Run over: To hit someone with a vehicle (similar to “run down”).

The main difference is that “run sb down” focuses more on harsh criticism or hitting with a vehicle, while “put down” is more about insults, and “run over” is mostly used for accidents.

Common Collocations

When using “run sb down,” certain words often appear with it. Here are some common collocations:

• Run someone down – to criticize unfairly
• Run a person down – to hit with a vehicle
• Run down someone’s reputation – to damage how others see someone
• Run down a dog/cat/animal – to hit an animal with a vehicle

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of run sb down:

• Run Sth Down
• Run After Sth
• Run Out On Sb
• Run Down Sth
• Run Sb In

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “run sb down”:

Anna: I heard John ran Sarah down during the meeting yesterday.

Ben: Yes, he was very harsh. It wasn’t fair.

Anna: That’s not professional at all.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “run sb down”:

• She always _______ her teammates when things go wrong.
• The driver accidentally _______ a pedestrian last night.
• Don’t _______ yourself; you did well on the test.

FAQ

• What does “run sb down” mean? It means to criticize someone or to hit someone with a vehicle.
• Is “run sb down” formal or informal? It is mostly informal but common in spoken and written English.
• Can I separate the object from “run down”? Yes, the object can go between “run” and “down” or after the phrase.
• What is the difference between “run down” and “run over”? “Run down” can mean criticize or hit with a vehicle, while “run over” mainly means hit with a vehicle.
• Can “run sb down” be used for animals? Yes, especially when talking about hitting animals with a vehicle.