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Run Someone off Their Feet

What Does "Run Someone off Their Feet" Mean?

homeidiomsRun Someone off Their Feet
"Run someone off their feet" is an English idiom. It means "to cause someone to be extremely busy, overwhelmed, or exhausted due to a high volume of tasks, responsibilities, or demands."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "run someone off their feet" used in a sentence:
  • The holiday season always runs the retail staff off their feet, with long hours and constant customer interactions.
  • Managing a large family and household duties could easily run a parent off their feet, leaving little time for personal relaxation.
  • The sudden influx of orders ran the kitchen staff off their feet, but they managed to serve all the customers efficiently.
meaning for run someone off their feet

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 Someone off Their Feet" 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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