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run-down
[ruhn-doun]
adjective
fatigued; weary; exhausted.
in a state of poor health.
He was in a run-down condition from months of overwork.
in neglected condition; fallen into disrepair.
a run-down house.
Synonyms: , ,(of a spring-operated device) not running because it is unwound.
run down
verb
to cause or allow (an engine, battery, etc) to lose power gradually and cease to function or (of an engine, battery, etc) to do this
to decline or reduce in number or size
the firm ran down its sales force
(tr, usually passive) to tire, sap the strength of, or exhaust
he was thoroughly run down and needed a holiday
(tr) to criticize adversely; denigrate; decry
(tr) to hit and knock to the ground with a moving vehicle
nautical
(tr) to collide with and cause to sink
(intr, preposition) to navigate so as to move parallel to (a coast)
(tr) to pursue and find or capture
to run down a fugitive
(tr) to read swiftly or perfunctorily
he ran down their list of complaints
adjective
tired; exhausted
worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated
noun
a brief review, résumé, or summary
the process of a motor or mechanism coming gradually to a standstill after the source of power is removed
a reduction in number or size
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of run-down1
Idioms and Phrases
Stop because of lack of power or force, as in The alarm clock finally ran down . [Mid-1700s]
Make or be tired, cause to decline or be declined in health or vigor, as in His long illness ran him down, leaving him with no energy , or After that huge assignment his strength ran down . [First half of 1800s]
Collide with and knock over, as in The speeding motorist ran down a pedestrian . [Second half of 1500s]
Chase and capture, as in Police detectives ran down the suspects . [Second half of 1600s]
Trace the source of, as in She ran down all the references at the library .
Disparage, as in Don't run him down, he's a talented actor . [Second half of 1600s] Also see put down , def. 4.
Also, run one's eyes over . Look over, review, as in Let's run down the membership list again and see if we can pick a delegate , or She ran her eyes over the crowd, looking for her husband .
In baseball, tag out a runner between bases, as in We might have won but in the last inning they ran down two of our runners .
Example Sentences
And they’re like, “Yeah, that’s what happens on that side of town. You call the cops, they don’t come. Our schools are run-down.”
The run-down Corbett Arms, which dates back to the early 1800s, is now a far cry from being the landmark hotel which attracted stars like Lennon and Ono.
As soon as he got a smartphone, he started taking pictures of everything that sparked his interest, from neon signs to run-down motels.
The run-down estate has in recent years become a magnet for urban explorers and photographers, forcing the authorities to step up security patrols and issue danger warnings.
The Oakland Coliseum, the A’s longtime home, was widely considered one of the most run-down stadiums in the major leagues — baseball’s last dive bar, as the Guardian newspaper put it.
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Related 51Թs
- broken-down
- www.thesaurus.com
- decrepit
- derelict
- deserted
- desolate
- dilapidated
- dingy
- www.thesaurus.com
- ramshackle
- rickety
- seedy
- tacky
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