rundown
rundown — verb
1. to hit a person or animal with a vehicle so that they fall to the ground
to hit a person or animal with a vehicle so that they fall to the ground
A taxi nearly ran down a cyclist at the busy intersection.
passive: be/get run down by [vehicle]
The driver lost control and ran down a pedestrian on the sidewalk.
A deer was run down by a truck on the highway last night.
The old woman was run down by a delivery scooter on the market street.
- knock down
more general — can describe any collision, not just with a vehicle
- hit
simpler and broader; does not always mean the person falls
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
run + noun phrase + down
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be run down by'). The object can come between 'run' and 'down' (e.g., 'ran the dog down').
2. to crash into another boat or ship with enough force to make it sink
to crash into another boat or ship with enough force to make it sink
The fishing boat was run down by a cargo ship in thick fog.
passive: be run down by [vessel]
A patrol boat deliberately ran down the smugglers' speedboat near the coast.
The ferry nearly ran down a small sailboat that had strayed into its path.
The old tugboat was run down by an oil tanker during the storm.
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used for collisions between water vessels. The subject is typically a larger ship.
3. to chase a person or animal until you catch them, often when they are exhausted
to chase a person or animal until you catch them, often when they are exhausted
The police ran down the thief after a chase through the park.
The hunters ran down a wounded deer in the forest before dark.
Security guards ran down the suspect before he could reach the airport exit.
The dogs ran down the fox after a long chase across the fields.
- pursue
more formal; does not always imply capture
- catch up with
focuses on reaching rather than the chase itself
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often implies a long or exhausting pursuit. The object can come between 'run' and 'down' ('ran the fox down').
4. to locate a person or thing you have been looking for, often after considerable
to locate a person or thing you have been looking for, often after considerable effort
Ilan finally ran down an old jazz record he had been hunting for months.
The reporter ran down the source of the leaked documents after weeks of calls.
search-and-find scenario
Heloísa ran down the last piece of evidence just before the trial began.
Esme ran down a rare first edition of the novel at a charity book sale.
- track down
very similar in meaning, slightly more active in tone
- locate
more formal; does not imply the effort involved
- dig up
more informal, used especially for information
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
用法筆記
The most common meaning in everyday conversation. Often used in informal contexts. The object can be either a person, a document, or a piece of information.
5. in baseball, to put a runner out by touching them with the ball while they are t
in baseball, to put a runner out by touching them with the ball while they are trapped between two bases
The shortstop ran down the batter between second and third base.
baseball domain
The catcher ran down the runner trying to steal home plate in the ninth inning.
Jabari was run down by the first baseman after straying off the bag.
Shirin ran down the player caught between first and second.
- tag out
the general baseball term for touching a runner with the ball; 'rundown' specifies the between-bases situation
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
用法筆記
A baseball-specific term. The runner is said to be 'caught in a rundown' (noun form) between two fielders who throw the ball back and forth to trap them.
6. to say unkind or critical things about someone or something, often when they are
to say unkind or critical things about someone or something, often when they are not present
Vivek's boss is always running down his work in front of the whole team.
informal register: always running down [someone]
Stop running down your sister — she did her best in a difficult situation.
The review ran down the restaurant's atmosphere without saying a word about the food.
Ingrid hates how some politicians run down their opponents instead of debating ideas.
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in informal speech. Often implies unfair or repeated criticism. The opposite of 'praise' or 'talk up'.
常見錯誤
7. to name or read items from a complete list, going through each one in order from
to name or read items from a complete list, going through each one in order from start to finish
Talia ran down the list of ingredients for the school bake sale.
transitive: run down + noun phrase (list of something)
Before the vote, the secretary ran down each candidate's name so everyone could hear.
Hao ran down the meeting agenda so that all the staff knew what to expect.
Devika ran down the points the manager wanted to cover during the training session.
文法句型
rundown + noun phrase (list, agenda, names)
用法筆記
The object of this sense is typically a structured set of items: a list, agenda, names, or points. The tone is practical and slightly informal.
8. to stop operating because the source of energy inside has been fully used up
to stop operating because the source of energy inside has been fully used up
The clock above the fireplace ran down and nobody noticed until after dinner.
intransitive: used for clocks and mechanical devices
Lotte's wristwatch ran down during the long hike and she could not tell the time.
The grandfather clock in the hallway ran down because nobody wound it that week.
The kitchen timer ran down before the pasta was fully cooked.
- wind up
opposite action for mechanical clocks and watches
用法筆記
Commonly used for mechanical clocks, watches, and other devices that rely on a spring or battery. The subject is typically an object with a limited and depletable power source.
9. to gradually become weaker or less healthy over a period of time
to gradually become weaker or less healthy over a period of time
After weeks of working double shifts, Vinícius felt himself slowly running down.
intransitive: gradual loss of health or energy over time
The family noticed their old dog had been running down for several months.
Eshe watched her grandmother running down after the long winter illness kept her inside.
Tara noticed she was running down after months of poor sleep and bad eating habits.
- recover
to return to a healthy state
- strengthen
to gain back health and energy
用法筆記
Often used in progressive or perfect aspect ('is running down', 'has been running down') to describe a gradual process that continues over time. Frequently appears with possessive reflexive ('felt himself running down').
rundown — noun
1. a detailed list or report that covers all the important points of a subject, pre
a detailed list or report that covers all the important points of a subject, presented item by item so nothing is missed
Kemi gave the team a thorough rundown of the project's budget and timeline.
give + someone + a rundown of [topic]
Devika prepared a complete rundown of every expense from the last quarter.
Before the meeting, Rafael asked for a quick rundown on the client's concerns.
Reuben printed a full rundown of the parts that needed replacement.
文法句型
a rundown of [topic]
give [someone] a rundown on [something]
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'give' or 'prepare' followed by a prepositional phrase with 'of' or 'on'.
常見錯誤
2. the process of something shrinking, becoming less active, or falling below its f
the process of something shrinking, becoming less active, or falling below its former standard — for instance when a company cuts back its staff or a service loses its previous quality
The factory closure caused a steady rundown of the local workforce.
rundown of [workforce] — gradual reduction
Residents noticed a slow rundown in the quality of public services after the budget cuts.
Sari blamed the rundown of the hospital on years of underfunding.
Amihan watched the rundown of the old neighbourhood as shops closed one by one.
- decline
broader — can mean a fall in any area, not necessarily gradual or intentional
- cutback
more deliberate and financial in tone; a rundown can be passive or unintended
- deterioration
focuses on worsening quality; a rundown can also refer to shrinking size
- expansion
growth in size or scope — the opposite of a reduction
- improvement
rise in quality — the opposite of a decline in standards
文法句型
a rundown in [quality/activity]
a rundown of [workforce/staff]
用法筆記
Often paired with a possessive or 'the' + 'of' to indicate what is being reduced. Common in discussions of business or public services.
3. in baseball, a defensive play where a runner is trapped between two bases and fi
in baseball, a defensive play where a runner is trapped between two bases and fielders exchange the ball rapidly, trying to touch the runner with it to end the play
Christopher was caught in a rundown between first and second base and eventually tagged out.
baseball term: caught in a rundown between bases
The shortstop started the rundown with a quick throw, and the runner had no chance.
Iker escaped the rundown and slid safely back to second base.
Tunde watched the rundown from the dugout and cheered when his teammate escaped.
文法句型
in a rundown
caught in a rundown
start a rundown
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the context of baseball (primarily American). The action is also used as a verb phrase 'rundown' to describe the defensive play.
4. a short spoken or written summary that covers only the most important points of
a short spoken or written summary that covers only the most important points of something
Can you give me a quick rundown of what happened at the board meeting?
give + someone + a quick rundown of [topic]
Brandon provided a brief rundown of the main topics covered in the lecture.
A short rundown of the day's top stories is on the office board each morning.
Ziad gave the new intern a quick rundown of the filing system.
文法句型
give [someone] a rundown of [topic]
a quick rundown
a brief rundown
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DETAILED REPORT): this sense emphasises brevity and a quick overview rather than a thorough item-by-item account. Common in informal workplace conversation.
rundown — adjective
1. describing a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture that is in very bad physic
describing a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture that is in very bad physical condition because it has been neglected for a long time — for example, a house with broken windows, peeling paint, and a leaking roof.
The old hotel near the station looked rundown and had not been painted in years.
predicative use: looked rundown
Eleni rented a rundown apartment because it was all she could afford.
attributive use: a rundown apartment
The playground equipment was so rundown that the city council decided to replace it completely.
Vinícius bought a rundown fishing boat and spent months repairing it himself.
- dilapidated
more formal; describes things that are falling apart
- shabby
focuses on worn, faded appearance more than structural damage
- decrepit
suggests something is weak from age and near collapse
- well-maintained
regularly cared for
- brand-new
completely new
用法筆記
Predicative and attributive use are equally common for this sense. Typical subjects are buildings, vehicles, neighbourhoods, furniture, or equipment.
常見錯誤
2. feeling extremely tired and lacking energy, usually after a period of hard work,
feeling extremely tired and lacking energy, usually after a period of hard work, stress, or illness — for example, feeling unable to concentrate after working long hours without a break.
After twelve-hour shifts all week, Ziad felt rundown and could barely keep his eyes open.
predicative after 'feel': felt rundown
Lan studied for exams every night and began to feel rundown and unable to sleep.
pattern: feel rundown + unable to [verb]
The night-shift nurses looked rundown, with dark circles under their eyes.
After three weeks of flu, Yara still felt rundown and had no energy at all.
用法筆記
Almost always used predicatively (feel rundown, look rundown, become rundown). Refers to a temporary state of exhaustion rather than a chronic condition. Not used before a noun in formal writing, though attributive use (a rundown-looking person) occurs in informal speech.
常見錯誤
3. describing a clock, watch, or mechanical toy that has stopped working because it
describing a clock, watch, or mechanical toy that has stopped working because its spring has completely relaxed and no longer provides power to move the parts.
The grandfather clock was rundown and silent for days before João wound it again.
predicative: was rundown
Harper wound the music box each morning, but by evening it was rundown and silent.
temporal pattern: by [time] it was rundown
His wind-up alarm clock stopped when it became rundown during the night.
The mechanical toy rabbit stopped mid-jump as its spring ran down and went still.
用法筆記
Used predicatively only — 'the clock is rundown' not *'a rundown clock'. This sense is the most literal (derived from 'run' + 'down' = the spring has run down). Less common in everyday speech because battery-powered devices have replaced most mechanical clocks and toys.