[rub salt into one’s wounds]{v. phr.}, {informal} To deliberately add pain when one feels shame, regret, or defeat. •/Must you rub salt into my wounds by telling me how much fun I missed by not going to the party?/

[rub shoulders] See: RUB ELBOWS.

[rub the wrong way]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); annoy; bother. •/John’s bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way./ •/Mother’s friend called Harold a little boy, and that rubbed Harold the wrong way./ Compare: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2).

[rub up against]{v. phr.} To come into contact with. •/In that business one naturally has to rub up against all kinds of people./

[rub up to]{v. phr.} To do nice things for one; flatter a person; gain attention or rewards. •/Mona has the ability to rub up to the right kinds of people, so it’s no wonder she is so popular at her work./

[ruffle feathers] or [ruffle one’s feathers] {v. phr.} Insult or disturb slightly; offend. •/The author ruffled some feathers by his portrait of his hometown./

[rug] See: PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER, SWEEP UNDER THE RUG.

[rule] See: EXCEPTION PROVES THE RULE, GROUND RULE.

[rule of thumb]{n. phr.} A simple and practical method that has proven successful or useful in the past. •/It is a very good rule of thumb to look up all unfamiliar words in a good dictionary./

[rule out]{v.} 1. To say that (something) must not be done; not allow; also: decide against. •/The principal ruled out dances on school nights./ •/The play was ruled out by the referee./ •/Jean probably will not go to college, but she has not ruled that out./ 2. To show that (someone or something) is not a possibility; make it unnecessary to think about; remove (a chance). •/We have to find a baby-sitter for tonight; Betsy has a date, so that rules her out./ •/The doctor took X rays to rule out the chance of broken bones./ 3. To make impossible; prevent. •/Father’s death seems to rule out college for Jean./ •/Betsy’s date for the dance ruled out any baby-sitting that evening./

[rule the roost]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be leader or boss; be in charge. •/Jim is very bossy; he always wants to rule the roost./ •/Who rules the roost in the Smith’s house?/ Compare: WEAR THE TROUSERS.

[run] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD, END RUN, CUT AND RUN, FIRST-RUN, HOME RUN, IN THE LONG RUN, IN THE RUNNING, ON THE RUN, OUT OF THE RUNNING, SECOND-RUN.

[run across] See: COME ACROSS(1).

[run after] or [chase after] {v.} 1. To try to find; look for; hunt. •/The Dramatic Club has to run all over town after things for setting the stage when it puts on a play./ 2. {informal} To seek the company of; chase. •/Some boys spend a lot of time and money running after girls./

[run along]{v.} To go away; leave. •/Joan said she had errands to do and must run along./

[run a risk] or [take a risk] {v. phr.} To be open to danger or loss; put yourself in danger; be unprotected. •/A baseball umpire wears a mask and chest protector so he won’t run the risk of being hit by the ball./ •/Billy takes a risk of being hit by a car when he runs into the street without looking./ •/I was afraid to run the risk of betting on the game./ Compare: TAKE A CHANCE.

[run around in circles]{v. phr.} To waste time in repetitious movements; be confused. •/There was such a crowd in the lobby that I ran around in circles trying to find my group./

[run around] or [chase around] {v.}, {informal} To go to different places for company and pleasure; be friends. •/Tim hasn’t been to a dance all year; with school work and his job, he hasn’t time to run around./ •/Chuck and Jim chase around a lot together./ — Often used with "with". •/Ruth runs around with girls who like to go dancing./ Compare: GO AROUND, HANG AROUND.

[run around like a chicken with its head cut off] See: RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES.

[run a temperature]{v. phr.} To have a body temperature that is above normal; have a fever. •/Jimmy didn’t look ill, although he was running a temperature./ •/We took the baby to the doctor because he was running a temperature./

[run a tight ship]{v. phr.} To run an organization with a firm hand, with strict rules and regulations. •/Our dean of the college runs a very tight ship; he tolerates no mistakes./

[run away] or [run off] {v.} To leave and not plan to come back; go without permission; escape. •/Many times Tommy said he would run away from home, but he never did./ •/The guards in jail make sure that none of the prisoners run away./ Compare: GET AWAY.

[run away with]{v.} 1a. To take quickly and secretly, especially without permission; steal. •/A thief ran away with Grandma’s silver teapot./ Syn.: MAKE OFF. 1b. To go away with; elope. •/Mary said that if her parents wouldn’t let her marry Phil, she would run away with him./ 1c. To take hold of; seize. •/The boys thought they saw a ghost in the old house last night; they let their imagination run away with them./ Compare: GET THE BETTER OF. 2. To be much better or more noticeable than others in; win easily. •/Our team ran away with the game in the last half./ •/The fat comedian ran away with the TV show./ Compare: STEAL THE SHOW.

[run circles around] also [run rings around] {v. phr.} To show that you can do a task much better than; do better than (someone) very easily. •/In spelling, Ruth could run circles around Barbara any day./ •/Frank ran rings around the other boys on the basketball team./

[run down]{v.} (stress on "down") 1. To crash against and knock down or sink. •/Jack rode his bicycle too fast and almost ran down his little brother./ •/It was so foggy that the steamship almost ran down a small boat leaving port./ Compare: RUN INTO(3a). 2a. To chase until exhausted or caught. •/The dogs ran down the wounded deer./ 2b. To find by hard and thorough search; also: trace to its cause or beginning. •/The policeman ran down proof that the burglar had robbed the store./ Compare: HUNT DOWN. 2c. To catch (a base runner) between bases and tag out in baseball. •/The pitcher saw that the base runner was not on base, so he surprised him by throwing the ball to the first baseman, who ran him down before he reached second base./ 3. {informal} To say bad things about; criticize. •/Suzy ran down the club because the girls wouldn’t let her join./ Compare: FIND FAULT. 4. To stop working; not run or go. •/The battery in Father’s car ran down this morning./ •/The kitchen clock ran down because we forgot to wind it./ 5. To get into poor condition; look bad. •/A neighborhood runs down when the people don’t take care of their houses./

[run-down]{adj.} (stress on "run") In poor health or condition; weak or needing much work. •/Grandma caught a cold because she was very run-down from loss of sleep./ •/The houses near the center of the city get more run-down every year./

[run dry]{v. phr.} To dry up; lose the water content. •/After many years of use, our well ran dry./

[run errands]{v. phr.} To carry messages or perform similar minor tasks. •/Peter runs errands for our entire neighborhood to make some extra money./

[run for it] or [make a run for it] {v. phr.} To dash for safety; make a speedy escape. •/The bridge the soldiers were on started to fall down and they had to run for it./ •/The policeman shouted for the robber to stop, but the robber made a run for if./