To run into the ground

To run into the ground
Run Run, v. t. 1. To cause to run (in the various senses of {Run}, v. i.); as, to run a horse; to run a stage; to run a machine; to run a rope through a block. [1913 Webster]

2. To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation. [1913 Webster]

To run the world back to its first original. --South. [1913 Webster]

I would gladly understand the formation of a soul, and run it up to its ``punctum saliens.'' --Collier. [1913 Webster]

3. To cause to enter; to thrust; as, to run a sword into or through the body; to run a nail into the foot. [1913 Webster]

You run your head into the lion's mouth. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

Having run his fingers through his hair. --Dickens. [1913 Webster]

4. To drive or force; to cause, or permit, to be driven. [1913 Webster]

They ran the ship aground. --Acts xxvii. 41. [1913 Webster]

A talkative person runs himself upon great inconveniences by blabbing out his own or other's secrets. --Ray. [1913 Webster]

Others, accustomed to retired speculations, run natural philosophy into metaphysical notions. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

5. To fuse; to shape; to mold; to cast; as, to run bullets, and the like. [1913 Webster]

The purest gold must be run and washed. --Felton. [1913 Webster]

6. To cause to be drawn; to mark out; to indicate; to determine; as, to run a line. [1913 Webster]

7. To cause to pass, or evade, offical restrictions; to smuggle; -- said of contraband or dutiable goods. [1913 Webster]

Heavy impositions . . . are a strong temptation of running goods. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

8. To go through or accomplish by running; as, to run a race; to run a certain career. [1913 Webster]

9. To cause to stand as a candidate for office; to support for office; as, to run some one for Congress. [Colloq. U.S.] [1913 Webster]

10. To encounter or incur, as a danger or risk; as, to run the risk of losing one's life. See To run the chances, below. ``He runneth two dangers.'' --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. --Dan Quail . [PJC]

11. To put at hazard; to venture; to risk. [1913 Webster]

He would himself be in the Highlands to receive them, and run his fortune with them. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

12. To discharge; to emit; to give forth copiously; to be bathed with; as, the pipe or faucet runs hot water. [1913 Webster]

At the base of Pompey's statua, Which all the while ran blood, great C[ae]sar fell. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

13. To be charged with, or to contain much of, while flowing; as, the rivers ran blood. [1913 Webster]

14. To conduct; to manage; to carry on; as, to run a factory or a hotel. [Colloq. U.S.] [1913 Webster]

15. To tease with sarcasms and ridicule. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

16. To sew, as a seam, by passing the needle through material in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time. [1913 Webster]

17. To migrate or move in schools; -- said of fish; esp., to ascend a river in order to spawn. [1913 Webster]

18. (Golf) To strike (the ball) in such a way as to cause it to run along the ground, as when approaching a hole. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{To run a blockade}, to get to, or away from, a blockaded port in safety.

{To run down}. (a) (Hunting) To chase till the object pursued is captured or exhausted; as, to run down a stag. (b) (Naut.) To run against and sink, as a vessel. (c) To crush; to overthrow; to overbear. ``Religion is run down by the license of these times.'' --Berkeley. (d) To disparage; to traduce. --F. W. Newman.

{To run hard}. (a) To press in competition; as, to run one hard in a race. (b) To urge or press importunately. (c) To banter severely.

{To run into the ground}, to carry to an absurd extreme; to overdo. [Slang, U.S.] (c) To erect hastily, as a building. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • run into the ground — run (yourself) into the ground to do so much you become unable to do anything well. He ll run himself into the ground if he keeps working at this pace. Usage notes: also used with other verbs: I tend to work myself into the ground …   New idioms dictionary

  • run into the ground — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do or use (something) more than is wanted or needed. * /It s all right to borrow my hammer once in a while, but don t run it into the ground./ 2. To win over or defeat (someone) completely. * /We lost the game today,… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • run into the ground — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To do or use (something) more than is wanted or needed. * /It s all right to borrow my hammer once in a while, but don t run it into the ground./ 2. To win over or defeat (someone) completely. * /We lost the game today,… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • run\ into\ the\ ground — v. phr. informal 1. To do or use (smth) more than is wanted or needed. It s all right to borrow my hammer once in a while, but don t run it into the ground. 2. To win over or defeat (someone) completely. We lost the game today, but tomorrow we ll …   Словарь американских идиом

  • run into the ground — drive/run/work (yourself) into the ground to work so hard that you become very tired or ill. He ll run himself into the ground if he doesn t take some time off …   New idioms dictionary

  • run into the ground — verb a) To mismanage to the point of ruin. Although he has an MBA from Harvard, he still ran the company into the ground. b) To wear out, especially through excessive use. I figure this car has a few more years left in it and I intend to run it… …   Wiktionary

  • run into the ground — British & Australian if something such as an activity or a plan runs into the ground, it fails. The talks ran into the ground because the ceasefire was broken …   New idioms dictionary

  • run into the ground — use something more than is wanted or needed He ran his car into the ground before he had to buy another one …   Idioms and examples

  • run (something) into the ground — 1. to use something so much that it does not work any more. I gave that car to my son and he ran it into the ground. It was a funny joke the first time he told it, but he ran it into the ground. 2. to cause something to become less successful.… …   New idioms dictionary

  • run yourself into the ground — run (yourself) into the ground to do so much you become unable to do anything well. He ll run himself into the ground if he keeps working at this pace. Usage notes: also used with other verbs: I tend to work myself into the ground …   New idioms dictionary

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