Street
do a runner
What does do a runner mean?
To leave hastily to escape a bill, obligation or trouble.
"They did a runner without paying the tab."
Origin
British colloquial idiom, mid-20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'do a runner' mean?
It means to leave somewhere quickly to escape paying a bill, meeting an obligation or facing trouble.
How is it used?
You might say 'they did a runner without paying the tab' when people flee a restaurant or bar without settling up.
Where does the phrase come from?
It's a British colloquial idiom that came into common use in the mid-20th century.
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