# outrun the constable

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/outrun-the-constable
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To spend more than one's income; to get into debt.

## Examples

- He spends too much money and is starting to outrun the constable.
- If you keep buying expensive clothes on credit, you will soon outrun the constable and face serious financial trouble.
- Despite his high salary, his extravagant lifestyle caused him to outrun the constable, leaving him with mounting debts that he could no longer ignore.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.