Phrasal verbs are an important feature of the English language. The meaning of a phrasal verb often bears no relation to the meaning of either the verb of the particle which is used with it. Many phrasal verbs have several different meanings.
Run after (to chase someone or something that is moving away from you)
Rosy ran after him with a bunch of keys that he had left behind.
Run along (something that you say to children to tell them to go away)
Run along children, I’m very busy now.
Run around with (to spend a lot of time with someone, especially someone other people do not like)
Ron is running around with a notorious gang.
Run around (to be very busy doing a lot of different tasks)
Your father has been running around the whole morning buying various items for the birthday party.
Run away (to leave somewhere by running)
The thief turned around and ran away.
Run away with (to leave a place secretly with someone to live with)
Bob’s daughter ran away with a young man.
Run down (to criticise someone or something often unfairly)
The press has begun to run down the Government.
Run into (to meet someone that you know when you did not expect to meet them)
Emma ran into an old friend at the public library.
Run off (to leave somewhere by running)
A man threw a stone at a moving vehicle and ran off.
Run off with (to leave a place secretly with someone in order to live with them)
Susan’s daughter ran off with an unemployed youth.
Run on (to continue for longer than expected)
The meeting ran on till 7 p.m.
Run out (to use all of something so that there is none left)
We have run out of copying paper.
Run over (to hit someone with a vehicle and drive over them, injuring or killing them)
A schoolboy was run over by a speeding vehicle.
Run through (to explain or read something to someone quickly)
Listen carefully as I run through the passage.
Run up (to run to where a person is)
The boy ran up to Nellie and placed a package in her hand.
Saddle up (to put a saddle on a horse so that you can ride it)
Jill saddled up and set off towards the fortress.
Saddle with (to give someone a job, problem or responsibility which will cause them a lot of difficulties)
Imelda has been saddled up with looking after five children.
Safeguard against (to do things that you hope will stop something unpleasant from happening)
To safeguard against theft, we deposit money in banks.
Sail through (to succeed very easily, especially in an examination)
George sailed through all his examinations.
Salt away (to put money into a safe place so that you can use it in the future)
Some politicians salt away millions of dollars in Swiss banks.
Sand down (to rub a surface with sandpaper)
John sanded down the door before polishing it.
Save on (to avoid using something so that you do not have to pay for it)
To save gas Norma used firewood for cooking.
Save up (to keep money so that you can buy something with it in the future)
I saved up for a brand new laptop.
Scare away (to make a person or animal so frightened that they go away)
Jack clapped his hands to scare the crows away.