run around

British  

verb

1. (often foll by with) to associate habitually (with)

2. to behave in a fickle or promiscuous manner

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noun

1. informal deceitful or evasive treatment of a person (esp in the phrase give or get the run-around )

2. printing an arrangement of printed matter in which the column width is narrowed to accommodate an illustration

run around Idioms  

1. Go about hurriedly here and there, as in I have been running around all day so I want to stay home tonight and relax . [Early 1900s]

2. Also, run around with . Associate or consort with socially, as in At college she began to run around with a very liberal group . [Late 1800s]

3. Be sexually unfaithful, as in She caught him running around just once too often and finally sued for divorce . [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

The event features barrel racing, where horses run around a path with sharp turns marked by barrels.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

Her goal: to run around a 10-minute-mile pace, complete the ski in under six minutes, haul the weights in under two minutes—and have a good time doing all of it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The Italian edged out Norwegian Erlend Blikra and compatriot Matteo Malucelli in the charge to the line at the end of a flat 166km run around Dubai.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Concentration camp systems are always an end run around the existing legal system in a country at a given time.

From Slate • Feb. 17, 2026

I’m sure it was occasionally just an excuse to get us kids out of the classroom and have us run around on the grass.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge