run-in
run-in — noun
1. a sudden angry disagreement with another person, especially one that causes last
a sudden angry disagreement with another person, especially one that causes lasting bad feelings or gets you into trouble
Esme had a run-in with a guard over bringing her dog into the museum.
collocation: have a run-in with [sb] over [sth]
After several run-ins with the coach, Tendai decided to switch to a different sports club.
plural form: (several) run-ins
Christopher's run-in with the landlord over the broken heater ended in a promise to fix it.
Reema still felt embarrassed about her run-in with the security guard at the airport.
- argument
more general and neutral; does not necessarily imply lingering bad feelings
- quarrel
suggests a more emotional and personal exchange between people who know each other
- confrontation
more serious, often implies a direct face-to-face clash that can escalate
- altercation
formal register; often used in news reports for physical or loud arguments
文法句型
have a run-in with somebody
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed pattern 'have a run-in with somebody (over/about something)'. The noun is most often singular, but the plural 'run-ins' can describe several separate arguments.