rundown
rundown — 動詞
1. to hit a person or animal with a vehicle so that they fall to the ground
撞倒
車輛撞倒行人或動物
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.
一輛計程車在繁忙的十字路口差點撞倒一名自行車騎士。
passive: be/get run down by [vehicle]
The driver lost control and ran down a pedestrian on the sidewalk.
那名駕駛失控，在人行道上撞倒了一名行人。
A deer was run down by a truck on the highway last night.
昨晚有一頭鹿在高速公路上被卡車撞倒。
The old woman was run down by a delivery scooter on the market street.
那位老太太在市場街上被一輛送貨機車撞倒。
- 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
撞沉
船隻撞擊他船使其沉沒
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.
那艘漁船在濃霧中被一艘貨輪撞沉。
passive: be run down by [vessel]
A patrol boat deliberately ran down the smugglers' speedboat near the coast.
一艘巡邏艇在近岸處故意撞沉了走私犯的快艇。
The ferry nearly ran down a small sailboat that had strayed into its path.
那艘渡輪差點撞沉一艘誤入其航道的小帆船。
The old tugboat was run down by an oil tanker during the storm.
那艘老拖船在暴風雨中被一艘油輪撞沉了。
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
追捕
追逐至精疲力竭後抓獲
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.
警方穿越公園追捕那名小偷後終於將他抓獲。
The hunters ran down a wounded deer in the forest before dark.
獵人們在天黑前在森林裡追捕到一頭受傷的鹿。
Security guards ran down the suspect before he could reach the airport exit.
保全人員在那名嫌疑犯抵達機場出口前追捕到他。
The dogs ran down the fox after a long chase across the fields.
那群獵犬穿越田野長途追逐後，終於追捕到了那隻狐狸。
- 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
找到；尋獲
經過搜尋後找到人或物
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.
Ilan 終於找到了一張他尋覓了好幾個月的老爵士唱片。
The reporter ran down the source of the leaked documents after weeks of calls.
那名記者打了好幾週電話後，終於找到了外洩文件的來源。
search-and-find scenario
Heloísa ran down the last piece of evidence just before the trial began.
Heloísa 就在審判開始前找到了最後一項證據。
Esme ran down a rare first edition of the novel at a charity book sale.
Esme 在一場二手書義賣中找到了那本小說的稀有初版。
- 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
觸殺
棒球中將跑壘員觸殺於壘間
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.
游擊手在二壘和三壘之間觸殺了那名打者。
baseball domain
The catcher ran down the runner trying to steal home plate in the ninth inning.
捕手在第九局觸殺了試圖盜本壘的跑者。
Jabari was run down by the first baseman after straying off the bag.
Jabari 因為離壘太遠而被一壘手觸殺出局。
Shirin ran down the player caught between first and second.
Shirin 觸殺了被困在一壘和二壘之間的跑者。
- 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
貶低
在背後說人壞話或批評
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.
Vivek 的老闆總是在全隊面前貶低他的工作表現。
informal register: always running down [someone]
Stop running down your sister — she did her best in a difficult situation.
別再貶低你妹妹了——她在困難的情況下已經盡力了。
The review ran down the restaurant's atmosphere without saying a word about the food.
那篇評論貶低了那間餐廳的氣氛，卻對食物品質隻字未提。
Ingrid hates how some politicians run down their opponents instead of debating ideas.
Ingrid 很討厭一些政治人物只會貶低對手，而不是就政策進行辯論。
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
逐一列舉
從頭到尾說出或列舉
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.
Talia 在出發前列出團隊為學校義賣活動還需要採購的食材。
transitive: run down + noun phrase (list of something)
Before the vote, the secretary ran down each candidate's name so everyone could hear.
投票前，秘書逐一唸出每位候選人的名字，讓大家都聽清楚。
Hao ran down the meeting agenda so that all the staff knew what to expect.
Hao 逐一列舉了會議議程，讓所有員工都知道接下來的安排。
Devika ran down the points the manager wanted to cover during the training session.
Devika 逐一說明了經理在培訓課程中想要涵蓋的重點。
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
停擺；沒電
因動力耗盡而停止運作
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.
壁爐上方的時鐘停擺了，直到晚餐後才有人注意到。
intransitive: used for clocks and mechanical devices
Lotte's wristwatch ran down during the long hike and she could not tell the time.
Lotte 的手錶在長途健行途中沒電了，她無法知道時間。
The grandfather clock in the hallway ran down because nobody wound it that week.
走廊上的老爺鐘因為那個禮拜沒人上發條而停擺了。
The kitchen timer ran down before the pasta was fully cooked.
廚房計時器在義大利麵煮熟之前就停了。
- 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
衰弱；衰退
健康或體力逐漸變差
to gradually become weaker or less healthy over a period of time
After weeks of working double shifts, Vinícius felt himself slowly running down.
連續好幾週輪值雙班之後，Vinícius 覺得自己的體力正在慢慢衰退。
intransitive: gradual loss of health or energy over time
The family noticed their old dog had been running down for several months.
那家人注意到他們的老狗身體已經衰退了好幾個月。
Eshe watched her grandmother running down after the long winter illness kept her inside.
Eshe 看著奶奶在久病的冬天之後逐漸衰弱。
Tara noticed she was running down after months of poor sleep and bad eating habits.
Tara 發現自己經過幾個月的睡眠不足和不良飲食之後身體越來越差。
- 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 — 名詞
1. a detailed list or report that covers all the important points of a subject, pre
詳細報告
逐項列出重要事項的詳細說明
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.
Kemi 向團隊提供了一份專案預算與時程的詳細報告。
give + someone + a rundown of [topic]
Devika prepared a complete rundown of every expense from the last quarter.
Devika 準備了一份上季所有支出的完整清單。
Before the meeting, Rafael asked for a quick rundown on the client's concerns.
開會前，Rafael 請對方快速說明一下客戶提出的問題。
Reuben printed a full rundown of the parts that needed replacement.
Reuben 列印了一份需要更換的零件的完整清單。
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
縮減；衰退
規模、品質或活動的逐漸縮小
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.
工廠關閉導致當地勞動力逐漸縮減。
rundown of [workforce] — gradual reduction
Residents noticed a slow rundown in the quality of public services after the budget cuts.
預算削減後，居民注意到公共服務品質逐漸下滑。
Sari blamed the rundown of the hospital on years of underfunding.
Sari 認為醫院服務的衰退是多年經費不足造成的。
Amihan watched the rundown of the old neighbourhood as shops closed one by one.
Amihan 看著老街區逐漸沒落，商店一家接一家關門。
- 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
夾殺
棒球中跑者被夾在壘間的防守戰術
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.
Christopher 在一壘和二壘之間被夾殺，最終遭到觸殺出局。
baseball term: caught in a rundown between bases
The shortstop started the rundown with a quick throw, and the runner had no chance.
游擊手迅速傳球展開夾殺，跑者完全沒有機會。
Iker escaped the rundown and slid safely back to second base.
Iker 成功逃出夾殺，安全滑回二壘。
Tunde watched the rundown from the dugout and cheered when his teammate escaped.
Tunde 在休息區看著夾殺的過程，當隊友成功逃脫時大聲歡呼。
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
簡報；摘要
要點式的簡短說明
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?
可以簡單跟我說一下董事會的情況嗎？
give + someone + a quick rundown of [topic]
Brandon provided a brief rundown of the main topics covered in the lecture.
Brandon 簡短說明了一下課堂涵蓋的主要內容。
A short rundown of the day's top stories is on the office board each morning.
辦公室佈告欄每天早上都有當日頭條新聞的簡要摘要。
Ziad gave the new intern a quick rundown of the filing system.
Ziad 向新來的實習生簡單說明了一下檔案管理系統的用法。
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 — 形容詞
1. describing a building, vehicle, or piece of furniture that is in very bad physic
破舊的
因長期缺乏維護而狀況很差的
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.
車站附近那間老舊的旅館看起來很破舊，已經好幾年沒有重新粉刷了。
predicative use: looked rundown
Eleni rented a rundown apartment because it was all she could afford.
Eleni 租了一間破舊的公寓，因為那是她唯一負擔得起的選擇。
attributive use: a rundown apartment
The playground equipment was so rundown that the city council decided to replace it completely.
遊樂場的設施破舊不堪，市議會決定全部換新。
Vinícius bought a rundown fishing boat and spent months repairing it himself.
Vinícius 買了一艘破舊的漁船，花了好幾個月自己修理。
- 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,
累垮的
因工作、壓力或生病而極度疲憊的
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.
Ziad 連續一週每天上班十二小時，累得幾乎睜不開眼睛。
predicative after 'feel': felt rundown
Lan studied for exams every night and began to feel rundown and unable to sleep.
Lan 每晚熬夜準備考試，漸漸覺得自己累垮了，連覺也睡不好。
pattern: feel rundown + unable to [verb]
The night-shift nurses looked rundown, with dark circles under their eyes.
值夜班的護理師看起來都累垮了，眼睛下面掛著黑眼圈。
After three weeks of flu, Yara still felt rundown and had no energy at all.
Yara 流感好了三個星期，身體還是很虛弱，完全沒有力氣。
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
發條鬆盡的
發條鬆盡而停擺的（鐘錶或玩具）
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.
那座老爺鐘發條鬆盡後靜止了好幾天，後來 João 重新上緊發條。
predicative: was rundown
Harper wound the music box each morning, but by evening it was rundown and silent.
Harper 每天早上幫音樂盒上發條，但到了傍晚發條就鬆盡了，音樂盒也靜止無聲。
temporal pattern: by [time] it was rundown
His wind-up alarm clock stopped when it became rundown during the night.
他的老式發條鬧鐘在夜間因為發條鬆盡而停了下來。
The mechanical toy rabbit stopped mid-jump as its spring ran down and went still.
那隻機械玩具兔子跳到一半停了下來，因為彈簧已經鬆盡了。
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.