On the run

idiom / adverbial phrase / adjective

Frequency

Medium-High

CEFR Level

Neutral

Domain

Escape

Definition

1. Trying to escape or hide, especially from the police.
2. Hurrying from place to place and very busy.
3. Being defeated or in retreat.
4. Doing something quickly while moving.

Context Alive

The detective pinned a photo to the board and turned to her team. The suspect had been on the run for over two weeks now. Every lead had gone cold, but she wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

Meanings

4 meanings

1 Escaping or Hiding from the Police (Idiom / Adjectival Phrase) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about someone trying to avoid being caught, especially by the police. Imagine watching a crime documentary where the narrator says “he was on the run for three years before they finally caught him in another country.” This is a person hiding and moving around to escape arrest. You might hear “the suspect is still on the run” or someone could say “he’s been on the run from the police since last summer.” Or picture a movie where two escaped prisoners are on the run, sleeping in different places every night to avoid being found. The phrase carries a strong sense of danger, urgency, and fear. ✏️ “On the run from” is the most common pattern — “on the run from the police,” “on the run from the law.”

Vivid Example

The news reported that the bank robber had crossed the border overnight. He’d been on the run for nearly a month, changing his appearance every few days. Police in three countries were now working together to track him down.

2 Very Busy and Always Rushing (Idiom / Adverbial Phrase) Common ▼

This meaning is about being extremely busy and constantly moving from one thing to the next. Imagine a working parent who drops the kids at school, rushes to the office, runs errands at lunch, picks up the kids, and takes them to football practice — they’re on the run all day long. This is a life where you barely have time to sit down. You might say “I’ve been on the run since six this morning” or someone could complain “I’m always on the run — I never get a moment to relax.” Or think about a doctor who’s on the run between appointments, never stopping for more than five minutes. The phrase suggests exhausting, nonstop activity. ✏️ This doesn’t mean escaping — it means being so busy that you feel like you’re constantly running from task to task.

Vivid Example

Between meetings, school pickups, and grocery shopping, she’d been on the run since dawn. She finally sat down at nine in the evening with a cup of tea. It was the first quiet moment she’d had all day.

3 Being Defeated or in Retreat (Idiom / Adjectival Phrase) Common ▼

This meaning is about someone or something losing ground and being pushed back. Imagine a football match where one team is completely dominating — they’ve scored three goals and the other team is on the run, struggling to keep up. This is being in a weak position where your opponent has the upper hand. You might hear “the champion had his opponent on the run from the first round” or someone could say “the competition has us on the run.” Or think about a political debate where one candidate is on the run after a scandal, losing support every day. The phrase points to losing momentum and being under pressure. ✏️ “Have someone on the run” means you’re winning and they’re struggling — it’s about dominance, not literal running.

Vivid Example

The smaller company launched an aggressive campaign that nobody expected. Within months, they had the market leader on the run with cheaper prices and better service. Industry analysts said it was the biggest upset in years.

4 Doing Something Quickly While Moving (Idiom / Adverbial Phrase) Common ▼

This meaning is about doing something in a hurry, usually while you’re heading somewhere else. Imagine grabbing a sandwich and eating it on the run because you’re late for a meeting — you’re walking and chewing at the same time. This is doing things quickly without stopping properly. You might say “I had breakfast on the run this morning” or someone could mention “she’s always eating on the run between classes.” Or picture a journalist checking emails on the run while rushing to catch a flight. The phrase suggests speed and multitasking. ✏️ This is very close to “on the go” — both mean doing things while moving, without sitting down or taking a proper break.

Vivid Example

He grabbed a coffee and a muffin from the counter without slowing down. He always had breakfast on the run during the work week. Sitting down for a proper meal was something he saved for weekends.

Examples from the Street

“Sorry, can’t chat — I’ve been on the run all morning.”

I’ve been rushing around busy all morning

“He grabbed a sandwich on the run between meetings.”

He ate quickly while moving from one place to another

“The suspect has been on the run from police for three days.”

The suspect has been hiding and escaping from the police

Common Patterns

be on the run (from someone/something) → be fleeing or hiding to avoid capture

go on the run → start fleeing, begin escaping from authorities

a fugitive/criminal on the run → a person actively escaping from law enforcement

been on the run for (time) → have been fleeing for a specific period

on the run from the law/police/authorities → escaping specifically from legal pursuit

be on the run all day/morning/week → be constantly busy and moving from task to task

keep someone on the run → keep someone extremely busy with no time to rest

always on the run → habitually rushed, never having free time

eat/grab something on the run → eat quickly while rushing between activities

do something on the run → handle a task hastily while busy with other things

a life on the run → a lifestyle of constant movement or escape

Collocations

3 collocations

on the run from

fleeing from pursuit

been on the run

have been escaping for some time

eat on the run

eat quickly while busy

Example Sentences

12 examples

The bank robber has been on the run for two weeks and nobody knows where he is

The thief who stole from the bank has been hiding and fleeing for a fortnight and his whereabouts are completely unknown.

After escaping from prison, he went on the run and crossed the border

After breaking out of jail, he started fleeing and managed to leave the country.

I’ve been on the run all day — I haven’t even had time to sit down

I’ve been rushing from one thing to the next since this morning — I haven’t had a single moment to rest.

With three kids and a full-time job, she’s always on the run

Between raising three children and working all day, she’s constantly busy and never has a spare minute.

He usually just grabs breakfast on the run because he leaves so early

He normally picks up something quick to eat while heading out because he departs at such an early hour.

I had to make a phone call on the run between the two appointments

I needed to quickly ring someone while hurrying from one meeting to the next.

The fugitive on the run was finally caught at a petrol station in Wales

The escaped criminal who had been hiding from authorities was eventually arrested at a fuel stop in Wales.

This new project is keeping everyone on the run — nobody’s had a proper lunch break in weeks

This new assignment is making the whole team incredibly busy — no one has managed to take a decent midday pause in ages.

She’s been on the run from her past for years, moving from city to city

She’s been trying to escape her previous life for a long time, relocating from one place to another repeatedly.

I don’t like eating on the run — I prefer to sit down and enjoy my food properly

I’m not keen on having meals while rushing around — I’d rather take a seat and savour what I’m eating at a relaxed pace.

Learner Examples

★

During exam week, teachers are on the run all day — preparing papers, supervising halls, and marking non-stop

During the testing period, educators are constantly rushing from one task to another — getting exams ready, watching over students, and grading without a break.

★

Learning vocabulary on the run — like reviewing flashcards on the bus — can actually be surprisingly effective

Studying new words while you’re moving between places — such as going through word cards during your commute — can turn out to be a really useful method.