# run down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/run-down
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to criticize someone or something in an unkind way. You use this when you talk about someone's faults or make them seem less important.

For teachers: to criticize someone or something, often unfairly or persistently. This transitive verb is primarily used in informal British English and allows the object to be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Examples

- Why do you always run down your own achievements?
- She tends to run down the local schools, even though she has never actually visited any of them herself.
- The critic was notorious for running down debut novels, often focusing on minor stylistic choices while ignoring the broader thematic ambitions of the authors.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is always running down them." but "He is always running them down." — pronoun objects must be placed between the verb and the particle in this phrasal verb.

## Usage notes

- often used when the speaker feels the criticism is unfair or unnecessary.
- Teaching tip: mention that this is more common in British English and that 'put down' or 'bad-mouth' are common alternatives.

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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.