run off

run off

1. To depart from someone or something by running. Are you boys looking for Mike? He just ran off toward the creek.
2. To flee, escape, or depart without the intention of returning. My dad ran off when I was just a baby, so I never met him. Bill's wife ran off with his accountant. That prison has had three inmates run off just this month.
3. To veer off the course, road, or track on which someone or something is currently traveling. The car hit a patch of black ice and ran off the road into a ditch. The train took the turn too fast, running off the tracks and crashing into a farmhouse.
4. To chase someone away with force or the threat of force or punishment. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "run" and "off." The sheriff ran the outlaws off back in January, but it looks like they're back again I'm going to go out there and run off those punks before they cause any damage.
See also: off, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

run someone or something off (of) something

 and run someone or something off
to drive someone or something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Go out and run those dogs off the lawn. Go run off the dogs from the lawn.
See also: off, run

run something off

 
1. to get rid of something, such as fat or energy, by running. The little boys are very excited. Send them outside to run it off. They need to run off their energy.
2. to duplicate something, using a mechanical duplicating machine. If the master copy is ready, I will run some other copies off. I'll run off some more copies.
See also: off, run

run off (with someone)

to run away with someone, as in an elopement. Tom ran off with Ann. Tom and Ann ran off and got married.
See also: off, run

run off something

to drive or travel off something, such as rails, tracks, a road, etc. The train ran off its rails and piled up in a cornfield. We almost ran off the road during the storm.
See also: off, run

run off

 
1. to flee. The children rang our doorbell and then ran off. They ran off as fast as they could.
2. to have diarrhea. He said he was running off all night. One of the children was running off and had to stay home from school.
3. [for a fluid] to drain away from a flat area. By noon, all the rainwater had run off the playground.
See also: off, run
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

run off

1. Escape; see run away, def. 2.
2. Flow off, drain, as in By noon all the water had run off the driveway. [Early 1700s]
3. Print, duplicate, or copy, as in We ran off 200 copies of the budget. [Late 1800s]
4. Decide a contest or competition, as in The last two events will be run off on Tuesday. [Late 1800s]
5. Also, run someone out. Force or drive someone away, as in The security guard ran off the trespassers, or They ran him out of town. [Early 1700s]
6. Produce or perform quickly and easily, as in After years of practice, he could run off a sermon in a couple of hours. [Late 1600s]
See also: off, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

run off

v.
1. To move away suddenly on foot; run away: The scarecrow frightened the approaching children and they ran off. He suddenly remembered something and ran off.
2. To cause someone or something to leave or run away from some place: The angry farmer ran us off his land. The security guard ran off the trespassers.
3. To create some copy or printout of a document: I ran off 200 copies of the report. Please run another copy off.
4. To flow off something; drain away from something: The rainwater runs off the roof into the gutter.
5. To decide a contest or competition from among the leading participants: The two candidates who received the highest votes in the special election will be running off for county commissioner.
6. To operate using something as a source of power: This CD player is portable and runs off batteries.
7. To leave a relationship or place to elope or have a romantic relationship: They ran off together and got married. I think she's going to run off with the guy she's been seeing secretly.
8. run off with To steal something; make off with something: The thief ran off with my book bag.
See also: off, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

run off

in. to have diarrhea. Jimmy has been running off since midnight.
See also: off, run
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • depart for (some place)
  • depart for some place
  • depart this life
  • elbow (one) out of (something)
  • edge (someone or something) out of (something)
  • edge out of
  • leave
  • leave (someone or something) (at) (some place)
  • elbow out of and elbow out
  • elbow (one) out
References in periodicals archive
In the Central Governorate 1st constituency, Hussain Al Aribi and Majdi Al Nasheet have survived the first round and are contesting in the run off while Khalid Jassim Al Amer runs head to head with Mohammed Ahmed Kadhim in the 3rd constutnecy.
Parliamentary and Municipal Elections - Second Round
The engineered contours on the site direct the run off throughout the site to the holding pond.
Trickle down theory: a recycler talks about his experience complying with New Jersey's stringent stormwater management regulation
When your tormentor has finally been run off or captured by the police, could any reasonable person expect you to pay off debt acquired under such circumstances?
Debt be not proud: "odious debt" left over from rotten regimes cripples the developing world
FIRST ASHES BALL: 1-4 Dot Ball, 7-2 One run off bat, 16-1 Four runs off bat, 16-1 Bye or Leg Bye, 20-1 Two runs off bat, 20-1 Wicket, 20-1 Wide, 25-1 No Ball, 40-1 Three runs off bat, 150-1 Six runs off bat.
PLENTY OF CASH ON TOURISTS