Run Into

Meaning Of Idiom ‘Run Into’ (Phrasal Verb)

The idiom and phrasal verb run into is a difficult one because it has several different meanings. 

Meaning 1: To meet someone or find them unexpectedly, by chance. (i.e. to run into someone)


Examples Of Use

  • “You won’t believe who I ran into the park this morning. Mr. Williams, our old English teacher!”
  • “I’m glad I ran into you. I was hoping you could come over for dinner tomorrow.”


Meaning 2: To encounter something, such as a difficulty, usually expenses or debt.


Examples Of Use

  • “Until he ran into trouble with the law, Franklin was a successful businessman.”
  • “We’ve run into some unexpected expenses this quarter which will affect the employee bonuses.”


Meaning 3. Collide with something.


Examples Of Use

  • “I saw a guy downtown. He was so busy on his phone that he ran into a post.”
  • “When I was young, I ran into a glass door and broke my nose.”


Meaning 4: (Of an amount, e.g. money) to reach a particular quantity (e.g. run into millions).

Examples Of Use

  • “The damage from the hurricane could run into the millions.”
  • “The musician has failed to file taxes and his tax bills have run into the hundreds of thousands.”


Meaning 5. Increase, keep going.

Example Of Use

  • “The days ran into weeks as the castaways waited for rescue.”


Meaning 6. Follow one upon the other with no separation or interruption; to blend together or appear to combine. 

Example Of Use

  • “Everyone in the room was talking at once so, their words ran into one another.”
  • “The excited reporters were eager for a scoop and their questions ran into one another, making it hard to hear what they were asking.”



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