run a fever

Meaning

This phrase means to have a body temperature that is higher than normal, usually due to an illness or infection. While 'have a fever' is also common, 'run a fever' often implies that the fever is active, ongoing, or being monitored.

Examples

• The toddler started to run a fever late last night.

  The toddler started to run a fever late last night.

• If you run a fever for more than three days, you should see a doctor.

  If you run a fever for more than three days, you should see a doctor.

• He's resting upstairs because he's running a high fever.

  He's resting upstairs because he's running a high fever.

• I felt cold and shivery, but I wasn't running a fever.

  I felt cold and shivery, but I wasn't running a fever.

• She can't go to school today if she is running a fever.

  She can't go to school today if she is running a fever.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am having a high temperature.

  ✓ I am running a fever.

  While 'having a temperature' is okay, 'running a fever' is much more idiomatic when describing an active fever. Avoid using 'having a high temperature' in casual speech.

• ✗ He runs a fever since yesterday.

  ✓ He has been running a fever since yesterday.

  Use the present perfect continuous ('has been running') to describe a state that started in the past and is still happening now.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The doctor said to take this medicine if you start to ___.

  💡 When your body temperature rises due to illness.

  Show answer

  run a fever

• She was ___ of 102 degrees, so we took her to the clinic.

  💡 Present continuous form of the phrase.

  Show answer

  running a fever