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run up in

C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To build up a big bill or debt in a specific place

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

To accumulate a debt or large bill in a specific place or currency

"He ran up thousands of dollars in debt in just three months of gambling."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

This is an extension of 'run up' (to accumulate) with a locative complement. Less common as a fixed phrasal verb; often simply 'run up' with an 'in' prepositional phrase attached.

Commonly used with

debt charges costs dollars casino restaurant

Forms

Base
run up in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
runs up in
he/she/it
Past simple
ran up in
yesterday
Past participle
run up in
have + pp
-ing form
running up in
continuous

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