English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Run Rampant

What Does "Run Rampant" Mean?

homeidiomsRun Rampant
"Run rampant" is an English idiom. It means "to spread or grow unchecked, often referring to something negative, chaotic, or uncontrollable; to occur in an unrestrained or widespread manner."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "run rampant" used in a sentence:
  • Rumors of layoffs began to run rampant throughout the company, causing anxiety among employees.
  • In the absence of effective measures, the virus continued to run rampant in the community, leading to a surge in cases.
  • Unchecked corruption and unethical behavior can allow dishonest practices to run rampant within an organization.
meaning for run rampant

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 "Run Rampant" 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.

A Quick Test

You now know what "run rampant" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)