run down
To knock someone over with a car, say bad things about someone, or when a battery stops working
Meanings
To hit a person or animal with a vehicle
"The driver ran down a cyclist who had swerved into the road."
"He was run down by a car while crossing the street."
— General reported speech widely used in news journalism (BBC News style)
To criticize someone repeatedly or unfairly; to speak badly about someone
"She's always running down her colleagues behind their backs."
To lose power or energy gradually until stopping; to become exhausted or depleted
"If you leave the lights on all night, the car battery will run down."
To find someone or something after a search; to track down
"It took the detective weeks to run down the missing witness."
The vehicle sense is common in both British and American English. The criticism sense ('don't run me down') is more informal. 'Run-down' as an adjective (a run-down building) is widespread and related.
Commonly used with
Forms
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