run up

British  

verb

1. to amass or accumulate; incur

   to run up debts

2. to make by sewing together quickly

   to run up a dress

3. to hoist

   to run up a flag

---

noun

1. an approach run by an athlete for a long jump, pole vault, etc

2. a preliminary or preparatory period

   the run-up to the election

run up Idioms  

1. Make or become greater or larger, as in That offer will run up the price of the stock . [Late 1500s]

2. Accumulate, as in She ran up huge bills at the florist . [First half of 1700s]

3. Sew rapidly, as in I can run up some new curtains for the kitchen . [Mid-1800s]

4. Raise a flag, as in Let's run up the flag in time for the holiday . This usage, originating in the navy about 1900, gave rise to the slangy phrase, Let's run it up the flagpole and see if anybody salutes , meaning, “Let's try this out.” The latter originated about 1960 as advertising jargon.

---

Example Sentences

The Provisional IRA - the main armed republican paramilitary group for most of the Troubles - declared a ceasefire in the run up to the agreement and officially ended its violent campaign in 2005.

From BBC

Experts warn, however, that the proposal runs up against geological and economic realities.

From Barron's

Management made the forecast as gains in running shoes, soccer gear and a rebound in North America run up against an array of other problems.

From MarketWatch

Allbirds’ products also ran up against quality issues, like holes in the shoes.

From MarketWatch

Kids are running up and down the wet sand chasing geese, while the younger ones seat themselves in the sand, buckets and shovels in hand.

From Literature

Related Words

• assemble
• construct
• create
• found
• hoist
• initiate
• mount
• organize
• put up
• raise
• set up
• stand