to run a mile
2
7.1
- idiom
- Informal
- If you hear a loud noise in the dark, it's natural to run a mile out of fear.
Examples
-
We must have run a mile.
-
Robin referred to all kids as rug rats, and he would run a mile at the suggestion.
Blog text (19) -
So when lunch recess came along, the P.E. teacher made them run a mile in laps.
Blog text (10) -
I think I can run a mile in about 5:10–5:20, maybe faster, but I need to actually try it sometime.
Blog text (29) -
And as I feel nauseous, the thought of a green vegetable makes me run a mile, which makes me sad to know I am rejecting such loving life force foods!
Blog text (29) -
Fads... you have no logical power to tell junk science from real science; if you did, you would run a mile from LENR... even in 20 years' time and still no LENR.
Blog text (19) -
When she saw the angry dog, she decided to run a mile to get away from it.
-
He would run a mile at the thought of speaking in public.
Synonyms
907
1.6
To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control
583
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
361
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
206
2.9
To avoid dealing with a problem or responsibility
35
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
23
3.5
Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying
20
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
17
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
10
5.6
To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble
6
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
2
9.0
To leave quickly to escape or avoid something
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
6.1
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
1
8.6
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
1
9.3
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
1
3.9
Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
Antonyms
How Avoidant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'run' (to move quickly on foot) and 'mile' (a long distance) transparently suggest running a long way, so a learner can infer a figurative sense of fleeing or avoiding. However, the usage is an exaggerated, idiomatic extension (not literally running a mile) and relies on pragmatic inference, so the relation is only partially predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Run a mile — The idiom run a mile comes from the simple picture of someone seeing something scary and deciding to run a whole mile away to feel safe. So the phrase means 'to try very hard to avoid someone or something'.