run around

be very busy doing lots of things in a hurry

B1

What does "run around" mean?

If you are running around, you are spending time rushing from one task to another, usually because you have a lot to do. It describes a feeling of being busy and a little overwhelmed, moving quickly between different jobs or errands. You are not literally running — the idea is that your day feels frantic and full. For example, a parent getting children ready for school, preparing packed lunches, and answering emails all at the same time might say they have been running around all morning. The phrase works well when you want to explain why you are tired or why you haven't had time to do something.

Examples

How to use it

subject + run around + (time expression)

The most common pattern — used alone with a time expression to describe a period of hectic busyness.

I've been running around all day and I'm exhausted.

subject + run around + gerund phrase

Follow the verb with a gerund phrase (an -ing verb) to say what tasks you are busy doing.

She spent the afternoon running around trying to find a venue for the party.

subject + run around + like a headless chicken

This fixed idiom is a very common and vivid way to say someone is rushed and disorganised.

He was running around like a headless chicken before the big presentation.

subject + run around + after + person

Add 'after' and a person to say you are doing lots of things to help or serve that person, often with some frustration.

I can't spend all day running around after you — sort it out yourself!

spend (time) + running around

Use 'spend' with a time phrase to describe how long you were busy with tasks.

We spent the whole morning running around getting things ready for the move.

Common Collocations

run around all dayrun around doing errandsrun around like a headless chickenrun around trying tobeen running around all morningrun around madly

Common Mistakes

Adding a direct object

This phrasal verb is intransitive, which means it never takes a direct object. You cannot place a noun or pronoun directly after it.

✗ I've been running around it all day.
✓ I've been running around all day.
Confusing with 'rush around'

'Rush around' focuses on moving very fast and urgently, while 'run around' focuses on being busy with many different tasks. They are close in meaning but not always interchangeable.

Using the simple form instead of the continuous

Because 'run around' describes repeated, ongoing activity, the continuous form (running around) sounds much more natural than the simple present or present perfect simple.

✗ I have run around all morning.
✓ I've been running around all morning.

Usage

This phrasal verb sounds most natural in the continuous form (especially present continuous or present perfect continuous) because it describes repeated, ongoing busyness. It is neutral to informal and works equally well in British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'run around' always mean being busy, or can it mean actually running?

It can mean both, so context is important. When it means being busy, you will usually see clues like 'all day', 'doing errands', or 'trying to organise things'. When it describes real physical movement — for example, children playing in a garden — it is the literal sense. This page covers only the 'busy with many tasks' meaning.

Can I use 'run around' in formal emails or reports?

It is better to avoid it in formal professional writing or academic work. It sounds natural in everyday conversation, informal emails, or messages to friends. In a formal context, you might say 'I had a very busy day attending to various tasks' instead.

Why does 'run around' sound better with 'been running around' than just 'have run around'?

Because the verb describes activity that continues over a period of time, the present perfect continuous ('have been running around') fits much better than the present perfect simple ('have run around'). The continuous form shows that the busyness went on and on, which is exactly the feeling this phrase conveys.

Is 'run around' British or American English?

It is used naturally in both British and American English. You might hear 'rush about' more often in British English as an alternative, but 'run around' is perfectly understood and used on both sides of the Atlantic.

What kinds of situations is 'run around' typically used for?

It is very common when talking about preparing for events, dealing with a hectic day at work, doing lots of errands, or organising something complicated. People often use it to explain why they are tired or why they haven't had time to eat, relax, or reply to messages.

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