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to run past

to run past

13 1.3
To move quickly past someone or let a chance go by without acting
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌn pæst/
translation icon : pasar de largo (moverse rápidamente)
  • As I was walking in the park, I saw him run past me without noticing.
  • ran past their house
  • ran past the window
  • ran past the cars

What I remember is running past Anthony Huber.

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Examples

Synonyms

to pass by
vsto run past
165 1.2

Go past someone or something without stopping

is about quick motion or missed chance rather than merely moving without stopping
to run by
vsto run past
84 1.0

To pass close to a person or place while moving quickly on foot

is about letting a chance be missed instead of quick motion
to overtake
vsto run past
45 3.3

To catch up with and pass someone moving ahead of you

is about quick motion near someone or letting chances pass rather than catching up first
to go past
vsto run past
16 1.0

Move by someone or something without stopping

is about quick motion near others or missed chances, not simple moving beyond
to slip by
vsto run past
11 3.8

To go past quickly without anyone noticing, as with time or chances

is about quick nearby motion rather than unnoticed time flow
to brush by
vsto run past
3 5.2

To move past a person or thing very close without stopping

is about quick motion or allowing a chance be missed rather than close contact
to slide by
vsto run past
2 4.2

Time passes smoothly without you noticing

is about physical quick movement or missed chance rather than smooth time flow
to whisk by
vsto run past
1 5.1

Move past someone or something very quickly and smoothly

is about letting a moment be missed or fast motion rather than especially smooth movement
to glide by
vsto run past
1 3.9

Time that passes quickly without you noticing

is about quick nearby movement or missed chance, not only time flow

Antonyms

310 1.0

An act when something ends or pauses

161 2.8

To do something to solve a problem or make a change

How Quickly

to run past
13 1.3
to pass by
165 1.2
to walk past
69 1.0

Surface Forms

run past infinitive
ran past past
running past present participle
runs past third person singular
run past past participle

Morphology

run + past

The literal meaning 'to move quickly past someone or something' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'run' (move quickly on foot) with 'past' (motion by), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would understand that sense. However, the extended sense 'allow an opportunity to pass without taking action' is a metaphorical extension that is not fully predictable from the parts and may require prior exposure, so the item is best classified as partially transparent.

Etymology

The expression run past comes from a simple picture: someone does run and goes past another person or thing. By the same picture, time or a chance can 'run past' you when it goes by and you do nothing, so it now means both 'move quickly by' and 'let a chance go by'.