run off

Meaning

To leave a place, a situation, or a person suddenly or unexpectedly, often in a hurry or to escape. In casual contexts, it can simply mean rushing away to do a quick task.

Examples

• Don't run off yet! We haven't even finished our coffee.

  Don't run off yet! We haven't even finished our coffee.

• He suddenly ran off in the middle of our conversation because his phone rang.

  He suddenly ran off in the middle of our conversation because his phone rang.

• My dog saw a squirrel and ran off into the woods before I could grab his leash.

  My dog saw a squirrel and ran off into the woods before I could grab his leash.

• She ran off to the store to grab some milk before it closes.

  She ran off to the store to grab some milk before it closes.

• Why did you run off so quickly after the meeting yesterday?

  Why did you run off so quickly after the meeting yesterday?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He ran off the room when he heard the news.

  ✓ He ran out of the room when he heard the news.

  'Run off' is typically intransitive when it means to leave suddenly. If you want to specify the room or place you left, use 'run out of'.

• ✗ She has runned off with my car keys.

  ✓ She has run off with my car keys.

  'Run' is an irregular verb. Its past participle is 'run' (run-ran-run), not 'runned'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Sorry I had to ___ yesterday; I realized I was late for my dentist appointment.

  💡 A phrasal verb meaning to leave in a hurry.

  Show answer

  run off

• The kids ___ to play in the backyard as soon as they finished lunch.

  💡 Use the past tense of the phrasal verb meaning to leave quickly.

  Show answer

  ran off