runaround

American  

[ruhn-uh-round] / ˈrʌn əˌraʊnd /

noun

1. indecisive or evasive treatment, especially in response to a request.

   Ask for a raise and he'll give you the runaround.

   Synonyms:

   slip, evasion, dodge

2. Printing. an arrangement of type in which several lines are set in narrower measure than the others in a column to accommodate an illustration, initial, or the like.

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runaround Idioms  

1. see get the runaround.

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Etymology

Origin of runaround

1870–75, noun use of verb phrase run around

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

runaround

Emails to Saks asking about owed payments often went unanswered or were met with a runaround, said Emiliano Shnitzer-Bartocci, vice president of CTE Watch Co., which distributes Timex watches and Ray-Ban sunglasses among other accessories.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

People generally use “Kafkaesque” as an exaggerated metaphor, perhaps to describe the runaround you get from an insurance company or an especially aggravating trip to the DMV.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2025

“The common theme that we kept running into was that this was a big deal for many residents and almost all of us got the runaround from the city of Long Beach,” Oliver said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2024

I got in touch with Booking and spoke with several agents about getting a refund, but they gave me the runaround, continually insisting on more documentation.

From New York Times ● Feb. 22, 2024

For some unknown reason, the authorities kept on giving him the runaround, telling him to bring this and that document, this and that certificate.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane