What Does โRun sb inโ Mean?
โRun sb inโ means to arrest someone and take them to a police station for questioning or detention.
Introduction
The phrase โRun sb inโ is commonly used in informal English, especially in police or crime-related contexts. The โsbโ stands for โsomebody,โ meaning a person. When someone is โrun in,โ it usually means the police have arrested them. Understanding the โRun sb in meaningโ is helpful for learners who want to improve their knowledge of phrasal verbs related to law enforcement and everyday conversations. This phrase is often used in TV shows, movies, and news reports about crime.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: run somebody in
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to arrest someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โRun sb inโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) either between โrunโ and โinโ or after โin.โ
- run somebody in
- run in somebody
However, the most common and natural form is โrun somebody in.โ
How to Use Run sb in?
You use โRun sb inโ when talking about police arresting someone. It is usually in the past or present tense and often appears in news reports, police stories, or crime discussions. The verb is always followed by a person (somebody) who is the one being arrested.
Examples
Here are some examples to help you understand how to use โRun sb in in a sentenceโ:
- The police ran him in after the robbery.
- They ran the suspect in last night for questioning.
- Officers ran several criminals in during the operation.
- The detective said they will run the main suspect in soon.
- She was run in on charges of theft.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the placement of the object or use the phrase in the wrong context. Here are some common mistakes:
- Incorrect: The police ran in him for stealing.
Correct: The police ran him in for stealing. - Incorrect: I want to run in my friend.
Correct: I want to run my friend in (if you mean arresting, otherwise avoid using this phrase informally). - Incorrect: She ran in the car.
Correct: She ran the car in (meaning is different; here it means to drive a car for a while, not arrest).
Differences / Synonyms
โRun sb inโ is similar to โarrest sbโ but is more informal and often used in spoken English. Other phrasal verbs related to arrest include:
- Lock sb up: to put someone in jail, usually after arrest.
- Pin sb down: to catch or force someone to confess (not always arrest).
- Take sb in: can mean to arrest someone, but also to allow someone into a place.
The key difference is that โrun sb inโ focuses on the police arresting someone and taking them in for questioning.
Common Collocations
When using โrun sb in,โ it often collocates with words related to crime or suspects. Here are some common collocations:
- Run a suspect in: arrest a person suspected of a crime.
- Run a criminal in: arrest a criminal.
- Run someone in for: followed by the reason for arrest (e.g., theft, fraud).
- Run a drug dealer in: arrest someone selling illegal drugs.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of run sb in:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation showing how โrun sb inโ is used naturally:
Officer: We ran the suspect in last night after the robbery.
Reporter: Did they find any evidence?
Officer: Yes, the suspect confessed during questioning.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of โrun sb inโ:
- The police _______ the thief _______ early this morning.
- They are planning to _______ the main suspect _______ tomorrow.
- After the investigation, officers _______ several criminals _______.
FAQ
- What does โrun sb inโ mean?
It means to arrest someone and take them to the police station. - Is โrun sb inโ formal or informal?
It is informal and often used in spoken English or crime stories. - Can โrun sb inโ be used for animals?
No, it is used only for people being arrested. - Is โrun sb inโ separable?
Yes, you can separate the object between โrunโ and โin.โ - What is a synonym for โrun sb inโ?
โArrest sbโ is a formal synonym.
