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Give Someone the Runaround

What Does "Give Someone the Runaround" Mean?

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"Give someone the runaround" is an English idiom. It means "to evade or avoid answering someone's questions or requests, often by providing vague or misleading information."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "give someone the runaround" used in a sentence:
  • He felt frustrated when the customer service representative gave him the runaround instead of addressing his issue.
  • She suspected that her coworker was giving her the runaround about the missing files.
  • They demanded clear answers from their contractor and refused to accept any more excuses or the runaround.
meaning for give someone the runaround

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Give Someone the Runaround" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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