Do a runner

Feifei Welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Feifei…

Rob And I’m Rob. Quick Feifei, shut that door.

Feifei OK, calm down Rob, what’s the problem?

Rob Well there’s something going on in the office - everyone’s shouting and arguing about who broke the computer - you know, the new one with all that fancy software on it.

Feifei Oh yes, that really expensive one. So you’ve run away from the situation - that makes you look very guilty.

Rob That’s true - but the problem is, I am guilty. But the boss seemed so angry, I thought it best to… well… sort of…

Feifei Do a runner!

Rob
If you mean to leave a place in order to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation - then I suppose you’re right.

Feifei I am!

Rob Oh no, is someone coming? I’ll just hide under the desk while we hear some examples of this phrase in action…

Examples The new trainee did a runner after the first day - I don’t think he could cope with the high-pressure environment.

When they started to blame me for the mistake, I felt it best to do a runner and keep out of the way.

Feifei So that’s the phrase, to do a runner, which means leave a place quickly in order to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation. But Rob, this phrase has another similar meaning too?

Rob Yes. You can ‘do a runner’ from a place to avoid paying for something.

Feifei Like a restaurant. Have you done that Rob?

Rob Of course not! You know how honest I am.

Feifei Honest? Is that why you are hiding in this studio, rather than admit you broke the new computer?

Rob Well, it was an accident. Oh no… the boss is heading straight for the studio. I had better dash… see ya.

Feifei Bye Rob. It looks like he’s done a runner… again. Bye.