run down
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle down
Meanings
Criticise someone or something
Why “down”? Something is pressed down and kept from rising again.
“He's always running down his colleagues.”
“The review ran down the new film.”
Don't confuse with
Run down means criticise someone or something. Run up means accumulate a debt, bill or score quickly.
Test yourself
“He's always running down his colleagues.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
run up
A contrast learners often mix up
Accumulate a debt, bill or score quickly
bog down
Same down pattern: pressure
Slow or get stuck
bring down
Same down pattern: pressure
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
clamp down
Same down pattern: pressure
Impose strict control
crack down
Same down pattern: pressure
Take strict action against bad behaviour
face down
Same down pattern: pressure
Confront a challenge or opponent directly
hold down
Same down pattern: pressure
Keep someone or something restrained
hunker down
Same down pattern: pressure
Take cover; settle in low
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “run down”.
Practice “run down” in Sink In
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