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[rub salt into one’s wounds]{v. phr.}, {informal} To deliberately add pain when one feels shame, regret, or defeat. •/Must you rub salt into my wounds by telling me how much fun I missed by not going to the party?/
[rub shoulders] See: RUB ELBOWS.
[rub the wrong way]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); a
[rub up against]{v. phr.} To come into contact with. •/In that business one naturally has to rub up against all kinds of people./
[rub up to]{v. phr.} To do nice things for one; flatter a person; gain attention or rewards. •/Mona has the ability to rub up to the right kinds of people, so it’s no wonder she is so popular at her work./
[ruffle feathers] or [ruffle one’s feathers] {v. phr.} Insult or disturb slightly; offend. •/The author ruffled some feathers by his portrait of his hometown./
[rug] See: PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER, SWEEP UNDER THE RUG.
[rule] See: EXCEPTION PROVES THE RULE, GROUND RULE.
[rule of thumb]{n. phr.} A simple and practical method that has proven successful or useful in the past. •/It is a very good rule of thumb to look up all unfamiliar words in a good dictionary./
[rule out]{v.} 1. To say that (something) must not be done; not allow; also: decide against. •/The principal ruled out dances on school nights./ •/The play was ruled out by the referee./ •/Jean probably will not go to college, but she has not ruled that out./ 2. To show that (someone or something) is not a possibility; make it u
[rule the roost]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be leader or boss; be in charge. •/Jim is very bossy; he always wants to rule the roost./ •/Who rules the roost in the Smith’s house?/ Compare: WEAR THE TROUSERS.
[run] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD, END RUN, CUT AND RUN, FIRST-RUN, HOME RUN, IN THE LONG RUN, IN THE RUNNING, ON THE RUN, OUT OF THE RUNNING, SECOND-RUN.
[run across] See: COME ACROSS(1).
[run after] or [chase after] {v.} 1. To try to find; look for; hunt. •/The Dramatic Club has to run all over town after things for setting the stage when it puts on a play./ 2. {informal} To seek the company of; chase. •/Some boys spend a lot of time and money ru
[run along]{v.} To go away; leave. •/Joan said she had errands to do and must run along./
[run a risk] or [take a risk] {v. phr.} To be open to danger or loss; put yourself in danger; be unprotected. •/A baseball umpire wears a mask and chest protector so he won’t run the risk of being hit by the ball./ •/Billy takes a risk of being hit by a car when he runs into the street without looking./ •/I was afraid to run the risk of betting on the game./ Compare: TAKE A CHANCE.
[run around in circles]{v. phr.} To waste time in repetitious movements; be confused. •/There was such a crowd in the lobby that I ran around in circles trying to find my group./
[run around] or [chase around] {v.}, {informal} To go to different places for company and pleasure; be friends. •/Tim hasn’t been to a dance all year; with school work and his job, he hasn’t time to run around./ •/Chuck and Jim chase around a lot together./ — Often used with "with". •/Ruth runs around with girls who like to go dancing./ Compare: GO AROUND, HANG AROUND.
[run around like a chicken with its head cut off] See: RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES.
[run a temperature]{v. phr.} To have a body temperature that is above normal; have a fever. •/Jimmy didn’t look ill, although he was ru
[run a tight ship]{v. phr.} To run an organization with a firm hand, with strict rules and regulations. •/Our dean of the college runs a very tight ship; he tolerates no mistakes./
[run away] or [run off] {v.} To leave and not plan to come back; go without permission; escape. •/Many times Tommy said he would run away from home, but he never did./ •/The guards in jail make sure that none of the prisoners run away./ Compare: GET AWAY.
[run away with]{v.} 1a. To take quickly and secretly, especially without permission; steal. •/A thief ran away with Grandma’s silver teapot./ Syn.: MAKE OFF. 1b. To go away with; elope. •/Mary said that if her parents wouldn’t let her marry Phil, she would run away with him./ 1c. To take hold of; seize. •/The boys thought they saw a ghost in the old house last night; they let their imagination run away with them./ Compare: GET THE BETTER OF. 2. To be much better or more noticeable than others in; win easily. •/Our team ran away with the game in the last half./ •/The fat comedian ran away with the TV show./ Compare: STEAL THE SHOW.
[run circles around] also [run rings around] {v. phr.} To show that you can do a task much better than; do better than (someone) very easily. •/In spelling, Ruth could run circles around Barbara any day./ •/Frank ran rings around the other boys on the basketball team./
[run down]{v.} (stress on "down") 1. To crash against and knock down or sink. •/Jack rode his bicycle too fast and almost ran down his little brother./ •/It was so foggy that the steamship almost ran down a small boat leaving port./ Compare: RUN INTO(3a). 2a. To chase until exhausted or caught. •/The dogs ran down the wounded deer./ 2b. To find by hard and thorough search; also: trace to its cause or begi
[run-down]{adj.} (stress on "run") In poor health or condition; weak or needing much work. •/Grandma caught a cold because she was very run-down from loss of sleep./ •/The houses near the center of the city get more run-down every year./
[run dry]{v. phr.} To dry up; lose the water content. •/After many years of use, our well ran dry./
[run errands]{v. phr.} To carry messages or perform similar minor tasks. •/Peter runs errands for our entire neighborhood to make some extra money./
[run for it] or [make a run for it] {v. phr.} To dash for safety; make a speedy escape. •/The bridge the soldiers were on started to fall down and they had to run for it./ •/The policeman shouted for the robber to stop, but the robber made a run for if./