to got to run
19
3.5
- phrasal verb
- /ɡɑt tə rʌn/
- Informal
- But listen, I've got to run, or I'll be late for a meeting.
- I got to run now
- Okay, I got to run
- We've got to run
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Watch on YouTubeYou're not thinking, my gosh, we got to run out and get salt.
- You're not thinking, my gosh, we got to run out and get salt.
Examples
-
I'd like to hear more about him, but I've got to run.
Fiction book (1993) -
Oh, my God, I've got to run.
-
Yeah, I actually gotta run, - but there you are.
-
Well, I love you both, but I gotta run.
-
I know you gotta run back to your office, but... today is a very special day
-
I'm sorry, I gotta run.
-
Look, I'm late and I just got my teeth kicked in on the front page, so I gotta run.
Fiction book (1997) -
Darling, you've got to run now.
-
Now, I gotta run.
Fiction book (1997) -
I'm sorry, but I've got to run to catch my bus.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Leave a place or situation
∞
3.0
Leave a place quickly or suddenly
583
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
570
9.9
To leave a place quickly, often suddenly
361
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
353
3.7
To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye
78
2.3
To run away suddenly to escape danger
35
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
24
3.8
Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry
20
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
17
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
7
4.9
Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared
7
7.0
To run away quickly because you are afraid
7
8.8
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or questions
6
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
4
2.5
Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry
4
7.9
To leave a place suddenly without permission
2
9.9
To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there
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
9.3
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
To leave a place suddenly, usually to go somewhere else
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
Leave a place quickly because you are not welcome
How Urgent
Surface Forms
Morphology
got + to + run
The meaning is largely compositional: 'got to' (a colloquial form of 'have got to' / 'have to') conveys necessity and 'run' can mean 'leave quickly', so together they yield 'need to leave now'. However, the expression relies on a grammaticalized colloquial structure (and reductions like 'gotta') that a B1 learner who only knows literal senses may not fully recognize without some exposure.
Etymology
Got to run comes from the simple image of someone checking a clock and literally running to catch a train or be on time. Because got to shows they must and run shows moving fast, it now means 'to leave immediately'.