runaround

runaround
/run"euh rownd'/, n.
1. indecisive or evasive treatment, esp. in response to a request: Ask for a raise and he'll give you the runaround.
2. Print. an arrangement of type in which several lines are set in narrower measure than the others in a column to accommodate an illustration, initial, or the like.
[1870-75, Amer.; n. use of v. phrase run around]
Syn. 1. dodge, evasion, slip.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • runaround — ► NOUN informal 1) (the runaround) evasive treatment. 2) a runabout …   English terms dictionary

  • runaround — [run′ə round΄] n. ☆ 1. Informal a series of evasive excuses, deceptions, delays, etc.: usually in get (or give) the runaround 2. Printing an arrangement of type in shorter lines than the rest of the text, as around an illustration …   English World dictionary

  • Runaround — Run a*round , n. a delaying or evasive, and sometimes deceptive, answer to an inquiry or request. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • runaround — (n.) deceptive, evasive treatment, 1915, from RUN (Cf. run) (v.) + around. The verbal phrase run around to associate (with) is from 1887 …   Etymology dictionary

  • Runaround — Infobox Short story name = Runaround author = Isaac Asimov country = United States language = English series = Robot Series genre = Science fiction short story publication type = Periodical published in = Astounding Science Fiction publisher =… …   Wikipedia

  • runaround — UK [ˈrʌnəˌraʊnd] / US noun Word forms runaround : singular runaround plural runarounds give someone the runaround …   English dictionary

  • runaround — n. (colloq.) delaying action to give smb. the runaround * * * [ rʌnəˌraʊnd] (colloq.) [ delaying action ] to give smb. the runaround …   Combinatory dictionary

  • runaround — run|a|round [ˈrʌnəˌraund] n give sb the runaround informal to deliberately avoid giving someone a definite answer, especially when they are asking you to do something ▪ Every time we ask the landlord about fixing the roof, he gives us the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • runaround — run|a|round [ rʌnə,raund ] noun give someone the runaround INFORMAL to deliberately behave in a way that is not helpful: When I asked about the money she gave me the runaround …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • runaround — n. a wild goose chase. (Especially with give, as in the example.) □ The IRS gave us the runaround when we asked for a review. □ The customer will never get a runaround at my store! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • runaround — noun Date: 1915 1. deceptive or delaying action especially in response to a request < tired of getting the runaround > 2. matter typeset in shortened measure to run around something (as a cut) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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